not eating/drinking in labor at the hospital

texas77 · September 2009

do they really still do this? anyone know? i haven't attended a hospital birth in 15 yrs.

bebeblues · September 2009

Yep. Nothing. When I delivered dd, all you get is water swabs and ice chips. It was awful. I ended in a csection so I didn't get food for 72 hours! I was dehydrated and my veins blew out. It was terrible.

megjr8 · September 2009

I think you're pretty limited still to ice chips.

bostonfingerlakes07 · September 2009

They tell you not to, but my hospital let me sneak crackers and juice because it really didn't look like I was headed towards a c-section (didn't have one).

When I talked to my OB before I went to the hospital she told me to have a big breakfast before I came in.

My body pretty much "emptied" itself about 4 times before I even went to the hospital. That's supposed to be pretty common and I was glad it happened so there wouldn't be a poo on the delivery table incident

CanonMom · September 2009

yep just ice chips. The reason is, incase you have to go to have an emergency c section, the anestesia can cause vomitting and further problems if youve eaten.

Mrs.EmmaLouise · September 2009

Do they still give enemas prior to birth? My mom (shes crazy, dont judge) said that was really nice, and for me to request them Indifferent

Pamela05 · September 2009

I'm dreading that. When I had surgery before they promised me ice chips after I woke up and never brought them. I was pissed, and in pain, and sick, and could really have used them. I was so dried out I couldn't talk and I had only been in for a total of 4 hours (2 hours under - 1 for surgery, 1 to come to).

scooter999 · September 2009

My hospital lets you have clear liquids and popsicles,suckers and jello which they supply

Scout05 · September 2009

bostonfingerlakes07:

They tell you not to, but my hospital let me sneak crackers and juice because it really didn't look like I was headed towards a c-section (didn't have one).

When I talked to my OB before I went to the hospital she told me to have a big breakfast before I came in.

My body pretty much "emptied" itself about 4 times before I even went to the hospital. That's supposed to be pretty common and I was glad it happened so there wouldn't be a poo on the delivery table incident

I live in terror of that. I am, as Elliot said on Scrubs, a "nervous pooer." I really would rather not have that happen in front of DH and assorted hospital personel.

bostonfingerlakes07 · September 2009

Mrs.EmmaLouise:
Do they still give enemas prior to birth? My mom (shes crazy, dont judge) said that was really nice, and for me to request them

They don't! Your body normally does the deed for you at the beginning of labor.

cintim · September 2009

Mrs.EmmaLouise:
Do they still give enemas prior to birth? My mom (shes crazy, dont judge) said that was really nice, and for me to request them

Nope. They don't do that anymore, at least not where I delivered.

momagain2009 · September 2009

I just read an article stating that this is no longer recommended so possibly by the time we all delivery our babies we'll be able to eat a five course meal if we want.

I'm looking for the article now.

cintim · September 2009

To answer OP, I seriously don't remember eating/drinking anything. I can't say I wanted anything, though. Plus, I was on an IV drip so I'm not sure I was eating/drinking that way. I do remember being friggan STARVING afterwards (around 10pm, del'd DD at 5pm) and sent DH out for good ol' McD's!

texas77 · September 2009

hmmm, that is crazy to me. labor and birth is the HARDEST thing that you will ever do physically so why would you do that with no food? i wonder if they recommend that athletes dont' eat or drink anything before an event?

what if you were driving home from eating a huge dinner and got into a bad car accident and needed surgery and anesthesia? what would they do? i'll tell you what they would do, they would do the damn surgery.

i like they way hospitals get you all prepped for a c-sect before you even start labor by keeping your stomach empty.

OregonMama · September 2009

When I had DD they didn't let me eat ALL FREAKING DAY. And it SUCKED. I totally forgot about that until you mentioned it. Yep, going to go with the birth center. That decided it for me.

Oh, and in regards to pooping. You are so concentrated on pushing out a baby you don't even notice. At least I didn't. All thoughts of embarrassing yourself go right out the window.

meggiejo · September 2009

They did let me have cranberry juice instead of just water, and I don't know if it was because I was so hungry or what but it tasted heavenly! I delivered at 5:00 pm and the kitchen was closed so I got a jello cup and had to wait for a meal until the next am! And no I wasn't offered an enima (sp?) but I had been really sick the day before and didn't have anything left anyway.

momagain2009 · September 2009

To follow up my earlier post....the reason they are not supporting the no eating during labor stance is because women who have emergency c/s are usually in labor long enough for you to pass the food.

travers081906 · September 2009

yuppers unless ya wanna poo and pee all over the little one...it does happen!!!!! haha

texas77 · September 2009

travers081906:
yuppers unless ya wanna poo and pee all over the little one...it does happen!!!!! haha

how do you poop on the baby?

MrsMoher · September 2009

cintim:

To answer OP, I seriously don't remember eating/drinking anything. I can't say I wanted anything, though. Plus, I was on an IV drip so I'm not sure I was eating/drinking that way. I do remember being friggan STARVING afterwards (around 10pm, del'd DD at 5pm) and sent DH out for good ol' McD's!

THIS!!! We could only have ice chips, water, and popcycles. LIke that makes a pg woman fell full? Once they started my pit (iduction for PIH issues) I couldn't eat. Day 1 the freakin' bastard that was in that day (the only doc that I don't like out of 8 of them) didn't check me first and day 1 was wasted, so I ate one meal that night. Day 2 which was after the cervadil I couldn't eat again and then I delivered and E was in trouble and so it was literally like 11 or 12 before I got to eat that night.

And no enamas at my hospital either.

Mia07 · September 2009

Yep, all they would let me have were grape popsicles...

then the nurses kept commenting at how chapped my lips were and bringing me chapstick. It didn't click until afterwards when I saw pics that they weren't chapped, they were purple from the popsicles ppl! LOL

I was so hungry. I went in to be induced at like 5pm (nothing to eat since 12pm for lunch b/c I was surprised to be induced) labored until 11:30am the next day. I was STARVING

grr_aargh · September 2009

It might have been hospital policy, but I neither cared nor abided it.

I ate during both of my labors. As much as I wanted. It was very little - a power bar here and there, a few cups of cranberry juice. I think with DS I even had a cup of tea or coffee. . .

redstars93 · September 2009

scooter999:
My hospital lets you have clear liquids and popsicles,suckers and jello which they supply

Mine too. I drank a LOT of apple juice during labor.

My water broke at home right after lunch so I had just eaten but I still crammed in a few granola bars on the way to the hospital. Lucky I did because I didn't deliver until 4am (via unplannced c/s) and I didn't get breakfast until 8-ish. I was famished by then.

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