For years, eating and drinking have been prohibited in labour lest the mother requires operative delivery under general anaesthesia, which was believed to increase the risk of aspiration pneumonia if the mother has been allowed oral intake.

Now it is believed that the majority of women should not be starved throughout labour, specifically those who are not at high risk of operative delivery.

Being able to eat and drink during labour makes a woman feel normal and healthy. Denial of food can be seen as authoritarian, intimidating, and increases feelings of apprehension.  There is insufficient evidence to support the practice of starving women in labour in order to lessen the risk of gastric acid aspiration.

The American College of Nurse-Midwives stated that decisions related to nutrition and hydration in labour should be made following risk assessment of the mother and fetus, with regard to risk of surgery and birth environment factors, e.g availability of anaesthetic services.  Care decisions related to nutritional support should be individualized, and standard protocols do not apply to every woman in labour.