[There is not evidence for restricting eating and drinking during labour]

Views and policies about eating and drinking in labour vary widely across the world. There is an increasing trend towards allowing food and fluids during labour, although little scientific data exist on its influence on the course of labour. Evidence-based recommendations in the form of a guideline on eating and drinking in labour is still lacking. Thus, the purpose of the present paper was to review the current literature to establish whether there is evidence for restricting or allowing food and fluids during normal labour.