Eat or not eat before getting induce or going into labor?

duynguyen51 · May 2015

I'm just curious if anybody actually fast the night before they go into labor? Dr said not to eat anything past midnight but I really don't understand why. Anybody know?

scubakate · May 2015

My doc told me to eat a good meal before going in to be induced since I won't be allowed to once there.

djhudson9107 · May 2015

My dr told me to eat a good breakfast before going in for my induction. It could be awhile until baby comes.

duynguyen51 · May 2015

Wow, I wonder why my doctor told me not to. When I asked she said I might puke in there and if I have c section might cause something. Some ppls said it's bc they don't want you to poop while you are in labor bc they don't wanna clean up. I'm so confused, but I would starve if I don't eat so I should just eat.

ldmw · May 2015

EAT!! I labored at home before going in to hospital. I ate but wish I would have eaten more. I was starving! As soon as LO was born and we finished our skin to skin time, I ate a snack as they were weighing her.

R0xanne1634 · May 2015

Mine told me not to eat after midnight as well...this baby better come quick!!

kbenfield36 · May 2015

Definitely eat!! You could be in labor for a long time and you won't be allowed to eat

bijou1983 · May 2015

I was told in my birthing class to eat bc keeping your strength up is way more important than the off chance you throw up or poop. Also, making sure your SO or DH makes sure to eat is important as well. Many funny anecdotes were told of hubbies passing out mid-labor because they forgot to eat. Lol

duynguyen51 · May 2015

Thank you everyone, this helped a lot. I will be eating to get some strength to push, thank you so much. Good luck to me. I'm so freaking nervous, about to go in hospital to get induce in an hour.

Sam2552 · May 2015

Mine told me not to eat because there was a chance I was going to need an emergency c section. It's bad to have food in your system when there is a chance for anesthesia. You could aspirate food into your lungs or choke if you vomit while you are under. It is a long time to not eat though. I went from 9am to 8pm the next day before I got to eat. One night nurse felt sorry for me though and brought me a small cup of chicken broth around midnight.

duynguyen51 · May 2015

Sam2552 said:
Mine told me not to eat because there was a chance I was going to need an emergency c section. It's bad to have food in your system when there is a chance for anesthesia. You could aspirate food into your lungs or choke if you vomit while you are under. It is a long time to not eat though. I went from 9am to 8pm the next day before I got to eat. One night nurse felt sorry for me though and brought me a small cup of chicken broth around midnight.

That's what my doctor said, I'm getting induce bc of gestational diabetes. Dr said we going to try for vaginal delivery but I'm worry he might be too big and I might need csection:(. It's a tough call bc I don't want to risk it but I would be starving and afraid don't gave strength to push:(.

kmchugh2013 · May 2015

Eat !! U don't get another chance until after baby

I had a csection after Laboring 26 hrs .. & they put me in a liquid diet after.. Thankful I downed that pizza on the way to the hospital !

duynguyen51 · May 2015

kmchugh2013 said:
Eat !! U don't get another chance until after baby I had a csection after Laboring 26 hrs .. & they put me in a liquid diet after.. Thankful I downed that pizza on the way to the hospital !

Ok, good to know. Thank you so much:)

knightmansmama · May 2015

I ate a big breakfast before being induced at 630 am. I got the epidural around 12 which made me throw up and it was all liquid (sorry if that's TMI). You NEED to eat. I labored for 17 hours and I was starving. I joked with my husband that I didn't know which I was more excited about, the baby finally being out or that I could eat. The nurses would bring me jello every few hours but even that is just something to take the edge off when j felt weak and needed food.

mbt385 · May 2015

I was admitted to antepartum for three days before my induction (cervix needed some coercing). The entire time I was there, nurses told me to eat, eat, eat! They warned me that once my cervix was ready, I'd be sent to L&D and would only get ice, water, and jello. Once things got moving, food was an afterthought. I had no appetite for a good 12 hours, just major thirst!

thesunnyside · May 2015

Seriously eat! With my first I was induced and my son didn't show up for 36 hours. I did get lucky and after 18 hours I strong armed them into letting me have eggs and toast, but I think that was because I was not planning on having an epidural and I was only 4cm.

duynguyen51 · May 2015

Thanks everyone, I had a p&j sandwich and a glucerna shake ( it's like an ensure shakes for peoples with diabetes). Hope I don't get yell by doctor:/

beardenb124 · May 2015

From what I understand, many women experience nausea and food often comes back up. Also, if there is a complication and you must be put under anesthesia for any reason, there are serious risks involved.

OlgaN15 · May 2015

I ate a granola bar on the way to the hospital. I was glad I did, but I wasn't really all that hungry all day. I was told to eat a bit before, but to not eat a huge meal.

Brieb33 · May 2015

Reason being in case you have to have emergency surgery - anesthesia can make you sick and they don't want you to have food in your stomach in case you had to be to put to sleep, you throw up, and have it go into your lungs (known as aspiration). Dangerous.

CanadaMom17 · May 2015

I'm being induced, and was told have a good breakfast before I came in at 7am. If everything is going fine to begin with, it's unlikely you'll go from getting picotin to emergency c-section for hours and hours anyway. It's what you eat, not quantity anyway - a couple of eggs will 'last' your tummy longer than cereal & toast anyway - stick to some proteins and fats. If you want carbs, you can always have the crappy jello later.

toddabunny · May 2015

Defiantly eat, I was induced last night and didn't eat much before, I really could of done with that extra energy this morning when I was in labour and I was starving when it was all over, after all the checks it was getting to nearly dinner time before I ate

sschwege · May 2015

Not allowing food is sort of outdated advice. My hospital encourages women to eat and drink during labor. Even the conservative ACOG recommends allowing women to have clear fluids, no pulp juice, broth, water, I think Popsicles would be fine.

I remember reading an article where an OB addressed the no eating rule and he said if you are going to encourage women to go without food then you should also encourage people to not eat before getting in the car or doing extreme sports like skiing, after all there's a chance you will need emergency surgery in those cases as well. You need your strength eat!