Can You Eat While in Labor? The Answer Has Changed Over the Years

The labor process can feel like a marathon. It’s one of the most physically demanding events a woman’s body will go through. But for decades, women have been told not to eat or drink anything during the hours-long process. Where did this recommendation come from? And is it even necessary? We take a deeper look to answer the common question of whether you can eat while in labor.

Why do some people say you can’t eat while in labor?

Since the 1940s, doctors have recommended that women fast during labor. This was based on reports that it increased the risk of something called aspiration. This happens when stomach contents travel back up the esophagus (food pipe) and into the trachea (wind pipe).  

Aspiration can irritate the lungs and cause breathing problems. In more serious cases, it can lead to a bad pneumonia. The risk of aspiration is higher than normal starting around 18 to 20 weeks into pregnancy. This is because:

• The increased progesterone in your body causes the stomach to digest food a little slower.

• An enlarged uterus puts more upward pressure on the digestive system. 

The risk of aspiration is highest when general anesthesia is used in an emergency situation to deliver the baby during a C-section. Under general anesthesia, your body becomes relaxed, and isn’t able to protect potential food from coming up your stomach to your esophagus and into your lungs. 

But in 2009, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists changed this longstanding guideline. They recommended women be allowed to drink clear liquids during labor. When they updated their guidelines in 2019, they repeated the recommendation that “women in labor who do not have complications” can continue to drink clear liquids — but solid food and chunkier liquids should be avoided. 

The American Society of Anesthesiologists also weighed in on this. In 2015, they released a statement saying, “most healthy women can skip the fasting and, in fact, would benefit from eating a light meal during labor.” A year later — in their official guidelines for obstetric anesthesia — they added that aspiration during labor is very rare. And that there wasn’t enough evidence to link eating during labor to the risk of aspiration. 

This doesn’t mean the original reports got it wrong. Eating during labor has likely become safer over the decades with improvements in pain management during labor and delivery. These days, women need less opioids and anesthetic gases, which increase the chance of aspiration. Many women get an epidural for pain management during labor, which hasn’t been shown to increase the risk of aspiration. 

So, can you eat while in labor?

Unfortunately, it still depends. Many healthcare professionals now encourage a light meal earlier in the labor process, and allow you to stay hydrated with clear liquids. But these can vary between practices and hospitals. Some still recommend avoiding solid food while in active labor. And there may be stricter recommendations for people who are at higher risk of complications from eating. 

You may have to follow stricter guidelines if you are at higher risk from things like:

• Eclampsia or preeclampsia: These conditions increase the risk of seizure, which is also an aspiration risk. 

• Diabetes or gestational diabetes: Diabetes can slow down stomach digestion, leaving the stomach more full even if you haven’t eaten in a while. 

• Body mass index (BMI) above 40: Increased weight around your abdominal area can raise the pressure on both the uterus and your stomach. 

• Increased chance of an emergency C-section: Aspiration risk is higher during all C-sections, regardless of the type of anesthesia used. 

• Placental abnormalities: Conditions like placenta previa or placental abruption can lead to bleeding, which may require general anesthesia for treatment. 

It’s a good idea to ask your obstetrics care team about their typical approach to eating during labor, and any recommendations they have for you specifically. 

Dr. Lisa Karamardian, an experienced obstetrician, says that the majority of laboring women don’t actually feel hungry once active labor starts. She shared with us the advice she typically gives her patients. 

“The goal is to maintain energy and hydration without overwhelming your digestive system,” she said. “Be open and flexible. Small amounts of light, easily digestible food early on in labor tends to work best. As the labor progresses, we shift toward liquids.”  

Karamardian adds some reassurance for worried mothers: “I’ve never seen anything bad happen in over 30 years of experience with patients that listen to their bodies. I tell patients, ‘Let your body be your guide.’” 

“People know when they need or can tolerate oral nutrition,” she said. “Our bodies are amazing, and as long as you listen to them, all goes well.”

What are the safest foods to eat during labor?

Clear liquids are the safest choice during labor. These include: 

• Water

• Tea without milk or sugar

• Black coffee

• Sports drinks or oral carbohydrate-based drinks

• Broth

• Fruit juice, without pulp

There’s not a strict list of specific foods that are safest to eat during labor. But light meals mentioned in studies include:

• Low-fat yogurt

• Dates

• Fruits or fruit smoothies

• Vegetables

• Cereal and milk

• Toast or crackers

• Boiled eggs

• Bone broth

• Apple sauce

“Early labor is a perfect time for light, easily digestible foods such as Greek yogurt, boiled eggs, and dates,” Karamardian said. “Once someone is in active labor, I suggest sticking to clear liquids such as bone broth for protein and nutritional support.”

What foods should you avoid during labor?

Try to avoid heavy or greasy foods during labor, like a burger or fried food. It’s also wise to avoid spicy or highly acidic foods, which can lead to acid reflux and increase your chance of aspiration. 

“Don’t eat anything that you don’t want to throw up!” obstetrician Karamardian said. 

So, choose food that will provide nourishment and not cause stomach upset. At the end of the day, Karamardian said, let your body guide you. 

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Written by:

Nicole Andonian, MD

Nicole Andonian, MD, is a private practice anesthesiologist in Orange County, California. Her focus is in general anesthesia, regional anesthesia, and acute pain management.

Edited by:

Katie E. Golden, MD

Katie E. Golden, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and a medical editor at GoodRx.

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