Effect of Fluid Oral Intake During Labour

Saint Thomas Hospital (HST)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Labor

Treatments: Procedure: Fasting; Procedure: Diet

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01349686

MHST2011-03

Details and patient eligibility

About

Fasting during labour is a usual conduct in many hospitals around the world (due to the theorical risk of bronchoaspiration). There is little evidence supporting this conclusion. Besides, there are several studies that suggest that food intake during labour can be associated with shorter labours and a lower cesarean rate. The aim of the investigators study is to show if the oral intake of fluids during labour can reduce the first stage of labour with minimum risk to the patient.

Enrollment: 348 patients

Sex: Female

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Gestational age > 37 weeks.
• Cervical dilation < 5 cms.

Exclusion criteria

• Maternal pathologies (diabetes, heart disease, preeclampsia)
• Breech presentation or any other condition that is an indication of cesarean section.
• Premature rupture of membranes.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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348 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Oral intake of fluids

Experimental group

Description:

Intake of oral fluids during labour.

Treatment:

Procedure: Diet

Fasting

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

No intake of oral fluids during labour.

Treatment:

Procedure: Fasting