Maternal outcomes in women supplemented with a high-protein drink in labour

Abstract

Background: Because of the potential aspiration risk, oral intake is restricted during labour.

Aims: To determine whether high-protein drink supplementation in labour decreases nausea and emesis and promotes patient satisfaction.

Materials and methods: The study was registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01414478). Labouring women were randomised into two groups: Group P received a high-protein drink (325 mL) with ice chips/water PRN; and Group C served as control and received only ice chips/water PRN (Study 1). Incidences of nausea and emesis were measured hourly until delivery and at 1 h postdelivery. Patient satisfaction was measured the following day. A secondary aim was to evaluate the rate of gastric emptying (t½ ) in women who ingested either 325 mL of a high-protein drink or ice chips/water (Study 2) using ultrasound.

Results: In Study 1, 150 women were recruited (Group P = 75; Group C = 75). There were no differences in the overall incidences of nausea (P = 0.14), emesis (P = 0.15) or in the incidences at the measured time periods (MANOVA, P > 0.05). Median patient satisfaction scores were higher in Group P than in Group C (P = 0.007). In Study 2, 18 additional patients (Group PG = 9; Group CG = 9) were analysed to determine US gastric emptying t½ rates (PG : 25.56 ± 15.90 min [95% CI: 15.17 - 35.94] compared with CG : 20.00 ± 8.70 min [95% CI: 14.34 - 25.66], P = 0.19).

Conclusion: In labour, patient satisfaction is improved with high-protein drink supplementation compared with ice chips/water with comparable gastric emptying rates.

Keywords: emesis; gastric emptying; ice chips/water; protein drink; satisfaction.