Oral intake in labour

What it is

The diet in labour guideline ensures the patient is given the appropriate diet during labour and the immediate post partum. The whole of it turns on one question: how likely is this woman to need a procedure under general anaesthesia?

The standard delivery light diet is low fat and low roughage, and it consists of apple juice, toast with butter or jam and banana, tea or coffee, clear soups, sandwiches, jelly and tang.

Who may eat and who may not

Patients in normal labour may have the standard delivery light diet, unless they are nil by mouth as per the doctor's orders.

All other cases may have fluids only. That includes patients with an increased risk of procedures under general anaesthesia during or after labour, and the guideline names induction of labour, a known trial of labour or scar, previous CS, and big baby short stature, along with other medium and high risk cases; unless they are not in labour and a diet is ordered by the doctor. For patients going through the induction process it will depend on the indication for induction and the risk of a surgical procedure under general anaesthetic.

Epidural anaesthesia: fluids only, in accordance with the anaesthetists' instructions, or nil by mouth if ordered.

Narcotic analgesia: any patient having received it should be allowed fluids only.

After delivery: patients are allowed their usual diet, unless there appears to be an immediate risk of a procedure under general anaesthesia. Special diets, for example diabetic diets, are prescribed in accordance with the doctors' orders.