Re: [ozmidwifery] Opinion on Fasting

[Judy Chapman]

Hi Jo,

Below part of the colcluding paragraph on the chapter regarding nutrition in labour from 'Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth'

Enkin and Keirse

Cheers

Judy

Conclusions

No presently known measures can ensure that a labouring woman's stomach is empty, or that her gastric juices will have a pH greater than 2.5. Enforced fasting in labour, the use of antacids, or pre-anaesthetic mechanical or chemical emptying of the stomach are only partially effective. All of these have unpleasant consequences, and are potentially hazardous to the mother and possibly her baby.

The syndrome of aspiration of gastric contents under general anaesthesia is rare but serious. It is wise to avoid general anaesthesia for delivery whenever possible, and to use a proper anaesthetic technique with meticulous attention to the known safeguards when general anaesthesia must be used.

From: "JoFromOz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Subject: [ozmidwifery] Opinion on Fasting

Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2002 15:01:59 +1000

Hi everyone.

Where I work, the consultants tend to 'fast' women who have a few

decellerations in a post - prostin CTG trace just incase they need a

c/s, and have them on continuous CTG monitoring. Is this something that

would help a woman feel that she can birth normally? I wouldn't think

so. What do you all think of fasting women in labour 'just incase'??

Jo

Be happy; for every minute you're angry you lose 60 seconds of happiness.

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