SPECIFIC NEEDS OF FOOD AND FLUID INTAKE DURING LABOUR.

Aim of study: The main aims of our work were to ascertain the degree of requirements of food and fluid intake as well as the amounts of fluids and food currently served to women during labour. We focused also on the reasons for restrictions in fluid and food intake per os, occurrence of nausea and vomiting following oral intake, as well as the women's foreknowledge about fluid and food intake during labour. Materials and Methods: The respondents were represented by 100 women during the postpartum period, after spontaneous labour at low risk. The average length of the first stage of labour was 9 hours. 47% of respondents were primipara and the others were multipara. To collect empirical data, we prepared and distributed a questionnaire which was completed by women in three postpartum wards in Slovakia. The data was collected between February 2014 and March 2014. Results: Only 19 % of women in labour experienced the urge to eat and replenish their energy during labour, but 88 % of women during labour (n = 88) felt the need for fluids. 41% of respondents (n = 41) took fluid orally in the following quantities: 100 ml or less (25%), 200 ml (29%), 300 ml (12%), 400 ml (17%), 500 ml or more (17%). 59 % of respondents could not drink fluids per os. 10 % of respondents (n = 10) ingested light meals per os, the others did not ingest food per os. The possibility of Caesarean section was expressed to be the most common reason for the limitation of oral fluid and food intake during labour. Only 2 respondents experienced nausea after oral fluid intake. 48 % (n = 48) of respondents had already been informed about the possibility of taking fluids and food during labour in the prenatal centres. Conclusion: In the given sample of women, the requirement for fluids (thirst) was much more dominant over the requirement for food (hunger or energy replenishment). 59 % of respondents couldn't take fluids and 90 % could not eat food during labour (substitution IV fluids). The most frequent reason of fluid restriction was the possibility of surgical delivery (risk of Mendelson's syndrome). An increased occurrence of nausea or vomiting after fluid intake was not confirmed. About half of the women were informed about the possibility of taking fluids and food during labour in the prenatal centres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]