Food and drink during labour

During labour you can drink and eat what you want. There is no benefit to drinking more than normal but it may be beneficial to drink isotonic drinks rather than water. An example of an isotonic drink is a Lucozade sport.

There are other varieties available, but these drinks are unlikely to be provided by your place of birth.

If you receive opioids or have risk factors that make it more likely you will have a caesarean, it may be recommended to have a light diet as you may feel unwell or need anaesthetic.

It is important that your care is personal to you and suits any medical conditions you may have. It is important to speak to your midwives or doctors if a medical condition may impact what you can eat during labour.