Eating before induction?

BeckyTheEngineer · January 2012

I will need to be induced tomorrow, and will go to the hospital at 6am. The doctor had said not to eat anything after midnight. Normally I am 100% about following what the OB says, but it seems like a bad idea to be showing up starving, knowing that I won't be allowed to eat for quite some time (and I have been losing weight). Articles I have read seem to support food before/during labor. Does anyone have experience with this? I did throw up a lot while in labor (not induced) with LO#1, so I was only thinking about maybe some oatmeal for breakfast.

shouldbworkin · January 2012

I'd be asking questions about that. My guess is that they don't want you to eat after midnight in case they need to do a c/s. Since you're going in for an "intervention" you could say the chances of that are higher. But, if you were in labor, I would totally tell you to eat before you went to the hospital.

Monicagail1 · January 2012

You'd be surprised how little you notice hunger with everything else going on. You're adrenaline sort of takes over and you're not even thinking about food. That said I had breakfast around 9am prior to my induction (started the pitocin at 2pm), and threw it all up around 4pm. If you do feel the need to eat something, make sure it's something you won't mind seeing come back up, lol.

The other reason they may ask you not to eat is because if you need to have a c/s they prefer your stomach/bowels to be empty for surgery.

secst26 · January 2012

I'm scheduled for an induction starting at 5pm. I was told I can lightly all day leading up to it. My OB said that the field of anesthesia needs to change their thinking about eating in labor, so I suppose they completely support having clear stuff during labor.

PhysChic7685 · January 2012

I was scheduled to be induced with my last and had intended to eat some buttered toast before I went in, to help tide me over. Of course, I ended up going into labor, but I still ate my toast.

December192009 · January 2012

Just be careful. You never know how quickly your body is going to progress during induction and a natural part of the labor process is that you will most likely become very nauseas and vomit during transitioning stages of labor. I got sick and just threw up water from the ice chips I'd snacked on all day. I know it's tough, but I was so glad I didn't sneak food just because it would have made the nausea/vomiting that much worse. East a substantial meal this evening that will tide you over. Even if baby doesn't arrive until late that night (like my DS) you will survive! GL!!

octbridemaryland · January 2012

I rarely post, but I wanted to share my experience with my DD. Like you, I had a morning induction. I was allowed to eat a small/light breakfast but nothing but Popsicles after that.

I am the type of person that can skip meals and it doesn't bother me. Once I was induced and felt hungry, it was terrible. Not being able to drink or eat was horrible. I remember how dry my mouth felt.I didn't deliver my daughter until close to 10pm. I can tell you that when it came time to push, I had no energy. Hopefully, your labor will go quickly, but I wanted to give my two cents. I think not eating anything at all is a bit much. I plan on bringing hard candy like jolly ranchers this time if my doctor insists again that I don't eat.

This was the one aspect of my delivery that really bothers me. I wasn't at all prepared for how incredibly exhausted I was during/after the delivery.

erinwhitney1979 · January 2012

I was induced with DS#1 and I was allowed to eat/drink whatever I wanted to. Just an FYI: I do NOT recommend getting the tuna melt.

I was starving and so thirsty that I can't imagine not eating and drinking during that time. Oh, it also took 22 hours for my son to be born, and that is a long time to go without food. I say eat something light and bring your own snacks.

Good luck!

baloneydisc · January 2012

I went in last Tuesday night to start Cytotec for induction Wednesday morning. We were told to eat a big dinner Tuesday night since I would be unable to eat again until after delivery. I wasn't really hungry at all until after delivery anyway, but was allowed water, apple juice and Popsicles until I was fully dilated. I only had water and still vomited several times. Once DD was out and I was stitched up I was starving, so we ordered food immediately.

gr8fulaa · January 2012

I was induced at 7 am, and was never told not to eat- I had an Egg McMuffin, lol. I was starving by 7:30 pm when DS was finally born, If I had never eaten breakfast I'd have probably bitten someone! I'm all for following doc's orders, but I would definitely eat if it were me- it's a long day and you'll need the energy! Also, Good luck!

MesmrEwe · January 2012

Having had two inductions I'd say - eat! Not a buffet,but honestly, eat something that is easy for you to digest before you go in! Unless your situation is such that you're ripe for a c/s and not just an induction per sae, the worst thing I did was not eat before mine the first time because by the time I was done delivering I was so starved it wasn't funny.

With my induction with DS they let me eat up until the point when I got my epi. Sure, the food was high-glycemic carb but it was FAR better than going into the whole thing starved!

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