Oral intake in labor - Trends in midwifery practice

Joint data collection by nine nurse-midwifery practices in the United State s in 1996 permitted a description of oral intake in labor. Observational da ta are reported for healthy gravidas at term (n = 3,338). The majority of w omen ingested only clear fluids in labor. Over one fourth consumed nonclear liquids or solid foods, and fasting was rare. Variations are reported for subgroups of women according to several demographic and clinical characteri stics. Ingestion of nonclear liquids or solids was least common in hospital settings as compared with home births. (C) 1999 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.