Eating and drinking in labor. A literature review

Abstract

This literature review questions the routine practice of denying food and fluids to women in labor. Fasting in labor, an established practice throughout the United States since the 1940s, is now under careful scrutiny. Many clinical practices, especially those that offer midwifery services, are currently instituting policies to allow and encourage eating and drinking in normal labor. To date, there have been no reported rises in maternal mortality with this policy change; neither have there been any reports of detrimental outcomes for mother or infant.