Did you get to eat before going into labor? With my first, I had skipped breakfast that morning, and with him not being born until afew days later, doctors were hesitant to give me any food (in case it made my stomach upset). With the second, I decided I am going to get something on the way to the hospital, I wasn't queasy or anything, but I didn't finish my breakfast biscuit as I just wasn't hungry anymore half way through. :)

My wife wasn't in much a mood to eat when she was in labor with our son... but, I'm reminded of what our labor teacher said. We didn't go with Lamaze, we did Bradley, and what she said made a lot of sense to me.

Hospitals try to exert control over laboring women, simply because it's easier for the staff to manage them if every delivery is done according to the same routine. One of the things that means in a lot of cases is no food, and no water (but they'll give you ice chips... you seriously mean to tell me I can get ice chips for my wife, but if we wait around and let them melt, you won't let her drink the water? :rolleyes:) Anyway - the reason they don't let you eat is because, just in case a c-section is necessary, a full stomach can interfere with the anesthesia. On the other hand, people go into emergency surgeries all the time, and who's walking around saying: "just in case you get hit by a bus and need surgery, you better skip breakfast?"

Yea for those reasons I can understand, or just having a VD (vaginal delivery), but seriously, some of these doctors have never seen me hungry. Every seen an angry pregnant women? :) Exactly my point, even having a little bit in my stomach was good the second time around, not alot just enough to tide me over. With the first I woke up on Sat. went to work, figured I would eat when I got there, worked for an hour and went "I need to go home", got to the hospital about noon or so, and all Saturday they told me NO FOOD. I didn't get to eat until Sunday morning, he was born Monday night. Decided right after that, never doing it again. When your stressed, hungry and waiting for something - it makes it a ton worse.

I can't believe they still don't let you eat in labor, just in case you need surgery. I went all day without eating with my first one , and that was terrible! The second time I actually had eaten pizza right before labor started! It was a quick labor so I didn't miss a meal and I was much happier!

With my first, since I went into early labor on that Friday, I went to work Saturday and was going to grab a bit to eat there, ending up going home 2 hours later, went to hospital, and I don't think I even ate til Sunday morning, when they realize my son was stubborn, he wasn't born til Monday night and I was so freaking hungry. Never again will I do that, I want my food. :)

Not eating is ridiculous. If there was ever a time that you need your energy, it is during labour. A good anaesthesiologist can maintain the airway of a person with a full stomach; they have to because like you say in an emergency you cannot guarantee the stomach contents of a patient.

I was allowed to eat, and I did so (and drank soy milk) up until about three minutes before my daughter was born.

I ate but it came up back, it was pretty funny because I did not have the throwing up problem earlier in the pregnancy. It became so bad, I went into the hospital to be induced. I was overdue and I couldn't keep down anything.

I had a little to eat before they induced labor.

Here in our country pregnant are not allowed to eat too much when it is already their time. I don't their reason but the advised those who are scheduled to give birth to not eat too much before or during labor.

With my first one I didnt have time to eat, and I swear she has to be the most stubborn child I have ever met. I was lucky to get into the hospital and setup in time only to find out C Section and she was ready to just bite her way out. The second I had time to but I was sick most of the ordeal so food was the last thing on my mind.

After you have a baby or two you learn that it isn't fun to go through a long labor on an empty stomach. I did eat with my last 2...lol

My wife wasn't in much a mood to eat when she was in labor with our son... but, I'm reminded of what our labor teacher said. We didn't go with Lamaze, we did Bradley, and what she said made a lot of sense to me.

Hospitals try to exert control over laboring women, simply because it's easier for the staff to manage them if every delivery is done according to the same routine. One of the things that means in a lot of cases is no food, and no water (but they'll give you ice chips... you seriously mean to tell me I can get ice chips for my wife, but if we wait around and let them melt, you won't let her drink the water? :rolleyes:) Anyway - the reason they don't let you eat is because, just in case a c-section is necessary, a full stomach can interfere with the anesthesia. On the other hand, people go into emergency surgeries all the time, and who's walking around saying: "just in case you get hit by a bus and need surgery, you better skip breakfast?"


Some of that is a bit untrue, I'm sorry to say. Yes, the food messes with the anesthesia, but it does more when a lady is in labor. The medicines that are required when a person is in labor, either to induce it, or to help with the pain (including meds through and IV, or meds through and epidural), can induce nausea. Now, to someone who is just going into the hospital, that's not a big deal, but when you are also dealing with contractions from labor- it changes everything. If a woman is in labor and also vomiting, it can cause a lot of problems for the child and the mom. If the child is in the birth canal, the vomiting can cause extra pressure on the child, not to mention, that if the mom is in the middle of a contraction and is trying to vomit at the same time, she can not really push very well. This can cause BIG problems for the kid--like get stuck in the birth canal. Yes, it can cause problems if she is needing to go into a C-Section, but it really can cause more problems during a natural vaginal delivery.
So, it is really for her and the child's best interest that they eat minimal foods (liquids are ok) for the time prior to delivery.