![\"pregnant-drink\"](\"http:\/\/images1.blisstree.com\/files\/2010\/01\/pregnant-drink.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhile some hospitals continue to restrict what women in labor are allowed to eat or drink, new research shows that there’s no benefit in restriction or risk involved with eating or drinking during labor for women who aren’t expected to have complications.<\/p>\n
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The Cochrane Systematic Review<\/a> analyzed five previous studies involving restricting food and drink in women considered unlikely to need anesthesia. In all, 3,130 women were part of the review. No risk was found for women who ate or drank during labor in any of the studies, including those that compared eating and drinking at will with complete restriction, or in studies that compared specific foods, fluids, or carbohydrate drinks with water.<\/p>\n Lead researcher Mandisa Singata said that mothers in labor should be allowed to make their own decisions about whether to eat or drink. However, the research team didn’t find studies assessing the risks of eating and drinking for women with a higher risk of needing anesthesia. The Cochrane researchers said that further research is needed before recommendations can be made for women at risk of needing surgery.<\/p>\n One reason food and drink has been restricted for women in labor is the risk of possibly fatal damage to the lungs known as Mendelson’s syndrome. It can occur when particles of regurgitated food are inhaled under general anesthetic for Caesarean sections. However, Singata noted that while preventing Mendelson’s syndrome is important, it’s also a very rare problem that may not affect the majority of patients. She said, “It might be better to look at ways of preventing regurgitation during anesthesia for those patients who do require it.”<\/p>\n How do you feel about restricted food or water during labor?<\/p>\n (Image via flickr.gabi_menashe<\/a>)<\/p>\n Post from: Blisstree<\/a><\/p>\n