Restrictions on Oral and Parenteral Intake for Low-risk Labouring Women in Hospitals Across Canada: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: The dietary intake allowed during the latent and active phases of labour varies between Canadian hospitals. Our objective was to document current restrictions on oral and parenteral intake for low-risk labouring women in hospitals across Canada.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study of 118 Canadian hospitals that have specialized birthing centres. Information on dietary protocols for low-risk women in labour was obtained from each hospital via a brief telephone interview with the head nurse of each birthing centre. Data were presented by stage of labour, both with and without epidural anaesthesia, and also by dextrose supplementation of intravenous fluids.

Results: If epidural anaesthesia was not used during the active phase of labour, oral intake was restricted to clear fluids and/or ice chips in 50.9% of surveyed hospitals and oral intake could include solid food in 38.1%. However, when epidural anaesthesia was used during the active phase of labour, oral intake was restricted to clear fluids and ice chips in 82.8% of surveyed hospitals, while oral intake could include solid food in 7.2%. Furthermore, in 77.5% of hospitals, not only was oral intake during active labour with epidural anaesthesia limited to clear fluids and/or ice chips, but in addition this restrictive diet was not supplemented with parenteral dextrose.

Conclusion: The majority of low-risk pregnant women in Canadian hospitals are subjected to caloric restriction during the active phase of labour, especially when epidural anaesthesia is administered. Further studies on this subject are warranted because such pervasive practices may have important population effects on labouring women.

Keywords: Dietary intake; calorie restriction; dietary protocols; labour.