Single-centre survey of women reflecting on recent experiences and preferences of oral intake during labour.

Abstract

Consensus-based recommendations guiding oral intake during labour are lacking. We surveyed women at a tertiary women's hospital about preferences for and experiences of oral intake during labour, gastrointestinal symptoms during labour and recalled advice about oral intake. Women who experienced labour completed a postpartum survey with responses as free text, yes-no questions and five-point Likert scales. We identified demographic data and risk factors for surgical or anaesthetic intervention at delivery from medical records. We summarised free text comments using conventional content analysis. One hundred and forty-nine women completed the survey (47% response rate). Their mean (SD) age was 31 (four) years, birthing at median gestation of 39weeks (interquartile range: 38-40). One hundred and twenty-two (83%) and 44 (30%) women strongly agreed or agreed they felt like drinking and eating respectively during labour. Ninety women (61%) reported nausea and 47 women (32%) reported vomiting in labour. Forty-one women (28%) did not receive advice on oral intake during labour. Maternal risk factors for surgical intervention were identified in 72 (48%) women and fetal risk factors in 27 (18%) women. Thirty-one women (21%) delivered by emergency caesarean section. Pregnant women received variable advice regarding oral intake during labour, from variable sources. Most women felt like drinking but not eating during labour. Guidelines on oral intake in labour may be beneficial to women, balancing the preferences of women with risks of surgical intervention.