Nicky: thanks for your comment on thePrenatal Ed
Poll. You're right it is a diificult question and
one on which there is a wide range of thinking.
One school of thought views birth as a
potentially dangerous event that is - or could
become a medical condition at any moment. Concern
is that anesthesia may be necessary, say for an
emergency C-section, and there is danger that a
woman with a full stomach could aspirate. Another
school of thought views birth as a normal healthy
process. In this view, a woman's body is
engieneered for birth and the birth process is
self-regulating so that a laboring woman will
want to eat when she needs the energy and she
will lose desire to eat at the point that eating
might interfere with or jeopardize a healthy
birth.

The primary goal of the poll is to get people
thinking about the question, so it seems to be
working. Appreciate your note.. look for a
synthesis of the scientific literature on this
and opinions expressed by other visitors to the
site in  the next Prenatal Ed Udate newsletter of
8/15. Hope the site is useful to you. SS

Sandra Smith, MPH, CHES
Health Education Specialist
University of Washington, Center for Health
Education & Research
Clinical Instructor, School of Public Health,
Health Services Dept

Editor, Beginnings: A Practical Guide Through
Your Pregnancy
Editor, http://www.PrenatalEd.com

Mailing Address:
2821 2nd Ave #1601
Seattle WA 98121
206-441-7046
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-----Original Message-----
From:   Nicky McDermott [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   Tuesday, August 10, 1999 9:37 AM
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        Re: your vote and opinion

I had difficulty answering this question. It's a
yes and no. Let me explain
having been through labour twice, I didn't
appreciate not being able to eat
or drink - I really wanted that cafe latte!
However, I'm sure their must be
a good medical explanation for why a woman in
labour cannot eat or drink.
As any parent to be, the safe delivery of your
child is the issue. By
eating and drinking would the safety of the
mother and child be jeopardized
if emergency treatment was necessary? If there is
no evidence to support
this then I'd say a whole hearted YES let us eat
and drink and make the
whole experience as comfortable as possible.
Nicky McDermott

-----Original Message-----
From:   Lisa Nixon [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent:   August 6, 1999 4:03 PM
To:     [log in to unmask]
Subject:        your vote and opinion

Each month we introduce a question related to
patient education and ask for
your vote and opinion. Results and comments are
summarized in the
PrenatalEd Update monthly newsletter.
This months question:
During labor, women should eat as they desire.
[ ] yes
[ ] no
To vote and leave your comments, visit
<http://www.PrenatalEd.com/poll.htm>
Lisa Nixon
PrenatalEd