One thing that my husband was smart enough to ask on our hospital tour was their standards on eating and drinking in labor. This is something that is really important to me. I am really crabby and tired when I don’t eat and I just don’t think that would be the best way to labor. It seems the American College of Nurse-Midwives agrees with me. They have released new guidelines that say that eating in labor “can provide women with the energy they need and should not be routinely restricted.” To learn more about the guidelines, particularly related to eating and the possible need for general anesthesia, go to Clinical Guidelines for Nutrition in Labor
The following may be helpful as well:
Eating in Labor
Practice Guidelines for Obstetric Anesthesia
Now we just need to get the Now we just need to get the AMA to do that.
I Agree! As more and more studies come out and women become informed about their CHOICES in birth I am hopeful that the AMA will take a strong stand on this issue, as well.