Pregnant women may have heard that pregnant women who are about to give birth are prohibited from eating or drinking. Is the prohibition of drinking and eating before giving birth true or just a myth?
Actually, not all pregnant women are forbidden to drink and eat before giving birth. Pregnant women are generally prohibited from drinking and eating if they want to be given anesthesia, either to reduce labor pain or when they want to undergo a caesarean section.
This is done to reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia due to inhalation of food and drink into the lungs, which often occurs due to the use of anesthetics.
However, the risk of this happening is very low if the pregnant woman undergoes a normal delivery and the condition of the pregnant woman is healthy and does not suffer from pregnancy complications.
Eating and Drinking Before Childbirth
So, can pregnant women eat and drink before giving birth? The answer is yes. There are several studies that state that it does not harm pregnant women or the fetus.
Pregnant women actually need more energy intake from food and drink before delivery. This is because the labor process can last for hours and will drain a lot of energy.
If you don't get enough food and drink, the body of pregnant women will feel weak and lack energy when facing labor and are at risk of becoming dehydrated.
These various conditions have the potential to hinder the labor process and make labor take longer, so it is at risk of endangering the condition of pregnant women and fetuses.
Choice of Drinks and Food Before Childbirth
Before delivery, pregnant women are encouraged to eat small portions but often. This is done to prevent nausea and vomiting from eating too much.
In addition, pay attention to the type of food consumed. Before delivery, pregnant women are advised to avoid fatty and spicy foods because they can cause nausea and irritation of the stomach.
The following are some good food choices to eat before giving birth:
1. Carbohydrate foods
Carbohydrates are a good choice of food before giving birth because they are easy to digest and can provide energy to pregnant women gradually. Carbohydrate intake can be obtained from rice, wheat bread, potatoes, sweet potatoes, oatmeal, or biscuits.
2. Foods high in protein
Pregnant women are also advised to eat foods that contain protein to increase energy before delivery. Types of protein foods that pregnant women can consume include eggs, fish, yogurt, cheese, nuts, and tempeh and tofu.
3. Fruits
Fruits contain lots of vitamins, minerals, as well as water which is good for the body. To meet nutritional needs during childbirth, pregnant women can eat fruit directly after washing or process it into juice or juice smoothies.
4. Several kinds of drinks
During childbirth, pregnant women need to have adequate fluid intake so they don't become dehydrated. Water, coconut water, or isotonic drinks can be a good choice of fluid intake if pregnant women feel thirsty before the delivery process. However, avoid fizzy drinks, coffee, alcohol, or acidic drinks, such as orange juice.
Conditions that Require Pregnant Women to Fast Before Childbirth
Although it is still allowed to drink and eat before delivery, there are several conditions that make pregnant women have to fast a few hours before giving birth, namely:
Giving birth by caesarean section
Pregnant women who give birth by cesarean are advised not to eat anything at least 6 hours before the operation. This needs to be done especially if the caesarean section is performed under general anesthesia or general anesthesia.
If a pregnant woman does not empty her stomach during a caesarean section under general anesthesia, there is a possibility that the food in the stomach will be regurgitated and entered into the lungs when the effects of the anesthetic start to work.
However, most cesarean sections are not performed under general anesthesia, but with epidural or spinal anesthesia, so that the pregnant woman does not completely lose consciousness.
Using opioid drugs
The use of opioid drugs to reduce pain during labor can also increase the risk of pregnant women to vomit. Therefore, doctors may advise pregnant women not to eat and drink much before delivery, if pregnant women are given opioid drugs.
Getting an epidural
Sometimes, doctors also advise pregnant women not to eat and drink if the mother is going to undergo epidural anesthesia before giving birth, especially if the pregnant woman has been given the drug oxytocin to strengthen the contractions of the uterine muscles.
However, in some hospitals, pregnant women are still allowed to eat and drink even if they will receive epidural anesthesia.
If the pregnant woman is going to give birth normally and the pregnant woman and fetus are healthy, then the pregnant woman is allowed to drink and eat food before giving birth.
However, to determine whether pregnant women are allowed to eat and drink during childbirth, you should ask the obstetrician or midwife who helps the pregnant woman during the delivery process.
