Strict rules on eating and drinking during labor began in 1946 with Dr. Curtis Mendelson. He wanted to avoid aspiration in pregnant people under general anesthesia by keeping them from eating or drinking during labor. This was a helpful discovery that prevented many deaths, so the rule became a medical precedent.
Talk to your physician about what they recommend you eat at home before coming to the hospital, and what they allow once you get there. Moderate amounts of liquid usually are fine, such as water, tea, black coffee, juice, carbonated beverages, or clear broths.
It is better to not over exert yourself during the contractions where you may feel overwhelmed and want to change your positions frequently. Though changing positions can help speed up the things, rest is crucial as well. A labor can last for long hours; resting in between will help your mind and body to recover.
For years, pregnant women were advised to fast during labor and were limited to ice chips. This was mainly due to reports that pregnant women were at an increased risk for aspiration if they were put under general anesthesia. Aspiration occurs when food or water is inhaled into the lungs.
When women are in water during early labor, sometimes contractions can slow down or stop for a while. Your providers will monitor the baby's heart rate while you are in the tub. It can take some time to fill the tub with water and make sure the temperature is correct.
Prodromal labor consists of contractions that can be fairly regular (between 5-10 minutes apart) and can be painful like active labor contractions, more so than Braxton Hicks contractions. Typically each contraction will last just shy of one minute. These contractions are preparatory.
Warmth via moisture/water is also hydrating, and women who labour and birth in water are known to have a reduced incidence of tearing, too. Applying a warm compress to the area which is stretching during the birth helps the tissues of the perineum warm up and improves their stretchiness during the birth.
And you can stay hydrated as well as eat lightly as your day approaches in the hopes of avoiding large bowel movements. But even with these efforts, keep in mind that it's pretty likely you'll still pass some poop when you push.
Most women stay at home during this stage of labour. You can try to rest and relax, including by doing gentle stretches or by practising mindfulness, meditation or other calming techniques. You can eat light snacks like fruit or toast, but it is better not to have a heavy meal to avoid feeling nauseous later.
"It is desirable that women giving birth with an epidural do not have the additional stress of hunger, but instead be allowed to eat a light meal."
“…if you do not scream during the pain, it helps you to save the energy so that when it is time you can push but if you scream, you would be exhausted when the time comes for you to push and you might end up with episiotomy” (PP8).
With no epidural or narcotics on board, most birthing parents rate active-phase labor a 10 on the pain scale of 1 to 10. With pain management techniques taught in childbirth education, however, laboring parents can greatly reduce the intensity of the pain they experience.
Some people describe the feeling as being like intense period cramps, others say it feels like a tightening or pounding feeling in your uterus or across your belly, others describe the feeling as being like very intense muscle cramps, while still other people describe contractions as being like the sort of wrenching ...
Drink mostly water, milk, and fruit juice. Eat foods that have protein such as milk, cheese, yogurt, meat, fish and beans. Protein rich foods are important to help you recover from childbirth and keep your body strong. If you are under 18, or were underweight prior to pregnancy, you need to eat more protein.
They recommend eating 50% of normal caloric intake during the cervical ripening period of a medical labor induction (as it can take 12-24 hours to complete cervical ripening before labor contractions are started).
Pain relief should begin about 15 minutes after receiving the epidural, which takes about 10 minutes to administer. It's important to note that an epidural will last as long as a woman is in labor, Dr. McGuire adds, explaining that the medication is delivered continuously until it's time to deliver.
When your baby is ready to begin the journey through the birth canal, your cervix dilates from fully closed to 10 centimeters. This process can take hours, days, or even weeks. But once you hit active labor – about 6 cm dilated – it's usually just a matter of hours before you reach full dilation.
A birthing gown.
You'll find models that accommodate IVs, epidurals, fetal monitoring, and have shoulder snaps for skin-to-skin contact, among other features. Plus, many are made with breathable, high-quality fabric. They're not necessary, but if they help you feel comfortable, by all means mark the occasion with one.
Believe it or not, your feet can get cold during labour, so a pair of soft, thick socks will ensure your toes stay toasty. Get some with non-slip soles to make it easier for you to move about during labour.
Lochia is the vaginal discharge you have after giving birth. It contains a mix of blood, mucus and uterine tissue. It has a stale, musty odor like menstrual period discharge and can last several weeks.
If you've ever wondered if bodily functions like going to the bathroom continue while in labor, the truth is, yes, peeing and pooping and other messy bodily functions absolutely can happen during labor. And not only can pooping happen during labor, but having a bowel movement during labor can actually be a good thing.
Generally speaking, it's best to wait at least four weeks before taking your first bath after giving birth – or until you've gotten the go ahead from your healthcare provider. In those first few weeks postpartum, your cervix is still somewhat dilated, regardless of whether you had a vaginal delivery or a c-section.
Potty Posture
The idea on the toilet is to mimic a squatting position while still sitting on the seat. Grab a 7” or 9” foot stool (depends on how long your legs are) to get your knees up – this will seem quite high at first.
Eat plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, salad, wholegrain cereals and wholemeal bread, and drink plenty of water. This should make pooing easier and less painful. Try not to push or strain – this will make the piles worse. Let your midwife know if you feel very uncomfortable.