Is it truly necessary for women to be hungry and weak at a time when she needs to be at the peek of her strength for birthing?
Personally, my energy depletes both physically and mentally when I am hungry. I am unable to focus on a task when my tummy is grumbling so. I also have the tendency to get sharp with my tongue and end up apologizing later. Do you ever experience those problems? I could not imagine trying to labor while in such a state.
On Saturday, November 26, 2005 a young mamma I know went to the hospital because she thought her bag of waters had broken. She was actually urinating on herself during Braxton-Hicks contractions.
The doctor suggested she allow him to break her water so she can "have the baby this year". On Monday morning he started Pitocin and that evening she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.
Was she allowed to eat during her long stay in the hospital of 48 hours? No! If it were not for her labor coach giving her bites of protein bars and water to drink, she would have had NOTHING, except for the IV drip of sugar water.
Have no regrets.
Melissa M. Harden
Please visit www.birthingnaturally.net
IV's
by Robbie Davis-Floyd
The intravenous drips so commonly attached to the hands and arms of birthing women make a very powerful symbolic statement: they are umbilical cords to the hospital. The long cord connecting her body to the fluid-filled bag places the woman in the same relation to the hospital as the baby in her womb is to her. She is now dependent on the institution for her life and is receiving one of the most profound messages of her initiation experience: we are all dependent on institutions for our lives. But this message is all the more compelling in her case, for she is the real giver of life. Society and its institutions cannot exist unless women give birth; yet the birthing woman in the hospital is shown not that she gives life, but rather that the institution does.
Should We Eat or Drink in Labor? Please go to: About.com for the entire article.
... the stomach empties the fastest when the volume is at its greatest, and depending on the actual contents (fats delay processing, etc.).
Penny Simkin, a childbirth educator, has done studies where 27% of women reported that not being allowed to eat or drink was moderately to severely stressful for them.
Recent studies that have been conducted on oral hydration and food intake suggest that women who are allowed to eat and drink to comfort in labor have shorter labor (by an average of 90 minutes), less need for augmentation with Pitocin, require fewer pain medications, and the babies had higher apgar scores than of those in the control group. In another group of women studied all of the participants drank, and 85.5% of the ate during labor, usually earlier in labor. This did not appear to increase the frequency of nausea or vomiting. Allowing food and drink provides hydration, nutrition and increased comfort not to mention control for the laboring woman.
Ask your practitioner and birth place about their policies about food and drink during labor. If they do not reflect the current medical studies you may share the information with them and see if they will go along with your plan.
Just another note from Melissa:
If your practitioner or hospital does not allow eating during labor simply find another! You do not need to settle for less at a time when you need the most.
Please share your thoughts about this subject here.
