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Fasting
in the Obstetric patient:
1.
Clear liquids: Oral intake of clear liquids during labor
improves maternal comfort and satisfaction.
Recommendations:
The oral intake of modest amounts of clear liquids may
be allowed for uncomplicated laboring patients. Examples
of clear liquids include, but are not limited to, water,
fruit juices without pulp, carbonated beverages, clear
tea, and black coffee. The volume of liquid
ingested is less important than the type of liquid
ingested. However, patients with additional risk
factors of aspiration (eg., morbid obesity, diabetes,
difficult airway), or patients at increased risk for
operative delivery may have further restriction of oral
intake, determined on a patient-by-patient basis.
Please
consult your care providers regarding their guidelines. At
our institution, patients may continue to have fruit juice, crackers and broth and other light foods, avoiding heavy solids or food with high fat content when admitted for induction or observation to the Labor and Delivery Unit, up until the time that they enter active labor, or until epidural catheter placement is requested. After regional analgesia/anesthesia placement, oral intake is limited to
less than or equal to 8 oz/h
of non-carbonated clear liquids: e.g. apple and
cranberry juices, plain gelatin, tea, coffee without
milk). In all circumstances, the anesthesiologist may
limit this to a more restrictive policy based on
individual patient concerns.
2.
Solids: Solid food should be avoided in laboring
patients. A fasting period of solids of 8 hours or more
is preferable for uncomplicated pregnant women
undergoing elective cesarean delivery.
Once
again, please check with your care providers and follow
their guidelines. At our institution, when a woman is
contemplating a surgery to 'tie the tubes' following the
childbirth, she needs to abstain from oral intake,
other than water, for 8h prior to the procedure.
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