This may be weird!!?

Question

When you go into labor can you eat or drink anything or is it a bad idea because with all the pushing you might have a bowel movement? And if you shouldn't how soon should you stop like the day before...

Answer 1

You'll probably push some of the contents of your bowels out during delivery. It's kind of embarrassing but the doctor and nurses are so used to it, they just whisk it away. Besides, when you're in that position of bearing down, you're not going to care whether there's poop there. TRUST ME. Talk to your birth partner about it. If you do get freaked out about it, you won't be pushing right. They will tell you to bear down like you're having a bowel movement...it's not going to happen every time but chances are a little will come out.

Not eating will cause more problems--delivery could be a long, drawn-out ordeal and you will need the energy. Your baby will need the energy to get through his or her ordeal.

Take care and don't worry about it. Think about that beautiful baby that's coming to fill your heart and home with joy.

Answer 2

It really depends. First of all, if you have a short birth, you won't have a chance. Food is a definate no-no because the process of digesting food takes away from the process of delivering a baby. Your doctor may permit you to drink clear liquids and eat ice chips. As far as how long before you should stop, that's a whole different thing. If you are planning a cesarean, then they may not permit you to eat at all once you have gotten to the hospital. I ate a meal a mere 2 hours before I went into labor and I had a short birth so after I delivered and fed my daughter, they permitted me to eat. And yes you will be hungry. I wouldn't say stop eating the day before your due date or anything like that because there is really no telling when you will go into labor. And no matter what you do or don't eat, when you go into labor, because of the baby bearing down on your rectum, you will have a bowel movement. It just depends on how your labor progresses as to whether or not you have it on the table or in the restroom. And if you do have it on the table, don't worry because a lot of women go through that and it's only bacause you can't really feel it coming. The nurses will clean it all up before you deliver the baby.

Answer 3

Please don't stop eating before labour! Remember, your baby needs the nutrients!

In the past, many hospitals didn't allow labouring women to eat or drink anything (other than ice chips) out of fear that an emergency c-section will be necessary (for other reasons, eating won't make you have a c-section!) and then they may have to use a general anesthetic and as you probably know you can't eat anything before general anesthetic.

However, even emergency c-sections nowadays are mostly done with local anesthetic (spinal block) so that risk is much lower. Plus of course most women who start labour do end up giving birth vaginally!

According to my ob/gyn, the other risk is that you may end up vomiting if you're eating during labour, because the contractions cause some women to become nauseous. Personally I'd rather have energy and be able to eat, and end up vomiting, than being hungry and weak and avoiding the vomiting!

As for the bowel movement, like someone else said if it's going to happen it's going to happen. It happens to most women, and the nurses and drs have all seen it - it's no big deal. If you're in the middle of pushing you're probably not even going to notice! For that matter, some doctors think it's a good thing when you do have a bowel movement while pushing, because it proves that you're pushing the right way.

Also remember that you could be in labour for hours (12 to 24, maybe longer if your dr will allow you to be in labour for longer before doing a c-section) and you're going to need your strength... I'm only 30 weeks pregnant now and I can't go more than 2.5 hours without becoming ravenously hungry, so I definitely don't plan on fasting for a day before giving birth!

Answer 4

Honey, everything comes out, even what you ate 10 years ago. Don't stave yourself because you are afraid you will have a bowel movement, every woman poops when baby comes out. What do you think will happen with all that pushing?? The reason they do not want you to eat and drink? If they have to do an emergency c-section or you might get sick during labor. I would eat before you go to the hospital, something light, but eat, they won't feed you during your labor and sometimes you can get pretty hungry after 20 hours of labor.

Answer 5

Typically when you begin labor you will have a bowel movement that cleans everything out. Once you check into the hospital they won't let you eat or drink...only ice chips. Besides if you do have a bowel movement when your are pushing it probably won't even be noteworthy for the doctors and nurses...they see this kind of thing too often for yours to be very special. I'd eat before I went to the hospital because I guarantee you'll be hungry way before you have the baby.

Answer 6

It really depends on the Dr. However you don't know when your labor will begin. You should eat to keep up your strength for when labor does begin. Your Dr. should tell you what you can have and not have during labor. Don't want to eat a big meal, that is for sure. But alot of the time they will allow you to eat some lighter foods and some water or juice. Unfortunately the whole bm thing is just a fact of life. Does not happen to everyone, but it happens alot. If it does you probably wont even know. Your Dr. by now, has seen about everything and they are prepared to take care of every problem that might arise.... Good Luck

Answer 7

You can eat normally until you go into labor. While in labor, you will not be eating..They give you ice chips to eat. Depending on how your baby is born(vaginal or c sect)most hospitals give you something to eat after baby arrives. Labor is hard work, but the reward is better then anything in the world!! Good Luck!!!

Answer 8

I was in labor for 30 hours and in the beginning I was soooo hungry and was getting mad b/c they wouldn't let me eat. But, when I got further in to my labor I realized why they didn't let me eat, b/c if I would have I would have thrown up a lot. With my second, it stupidly ate right before going to the hospital and I drank soda and stuff right before and was regretting it b/c I threw up the whole time! So, I wouldn't reccommend it. You can eat usually immediatly after delivery!

Answer 9

Do what your doctor says it is important because you may need an emergency c section and you can complicate that procedureby eating! Plus do you really want to risk peeing or pooping near your baby?
My friend ate taco bell while in the hospital and had a bowel movement on the table her boyfriend had to hold a bedpan under her but he was so grossed out that they never really got back to normal and broke up soon after, not that this will happen to you and their relationship wasnt great but that would gross anyone out!

Answer 10

Eat normally before going to the hospital b/c once they check you in, you cannot eat anything until labor is completely through and the medicine is wore off...