Nothing By Mouth Hospital Policy
Imagine this... you’re preparing for a road trip that will be anywhere from 12-24 hours. After you’ve packed everything, checked all lists, and are ready to go...your mechanic advises you to fill your tank with only water when you would normally fill your tank with regular fuel to get you around. After filling your tank with water you set off on your long road trip but can’t seem to get far.
Why would you choose this road trip to fill your car with water? This logic is comparable to the NPO (nil per os - nothing by mouth) policy some hospitals have in place. This is an outdated policy that was put into place when birthing women were being sedated during childbirth! Chloroform and other methods of anesthesia that were being used to sedate women during childbirth, known as Twilight sleep, caused aspiration and lead them to choking on their own vomit. Also, it’s obvious that if nothing is on the stomach, your body won’t have anything to dispose. The NPO policy advises against eating or drinking during labor so there won’t be any bowel movements during pushing or in the event that you may need an emergency c-section. Yes, a c-section is a major abdominal surgery, but if someone was in a car accident and needed life saving surgery... would they wait for him to gain consciousness in order to ask if he’s eaten anything before they save his life?
This policy is just that. A policy, not LAW.
Your body needs energy and fuel to perform the most work it’s ever experienced. You know how weak you feel after not eating for hours? Imagine trying to push a baby out on top of that! You wouldn’t get too far like the car filled on water, you’d run out of energy, and this could possibly affect your labor progress. From a mental stand point, we all know we’re not ourselves when we’re hungry and from a physical stand point, this may make labor even more uncomfortable.
It’s important to stay hydrated and keep steady intake of fluids like water, fruit smoothies, Gatorade & Body Armors. It’s also important to eat the right snacks during labor. You don’t want to consume empty calories or heavy foods that will make you tired. You want quick snacks that go down easy and give you proper energy like nuts, yogurt, granola bars & fruits! Having proper fluid intake and energetic snacks will help give the necessary energy needed during labor.
Before you go into labor, it’s always a good idea to get a copy of the hospital policies beforehand so you can already be familiar with them and ask any necessary questions.
