Nothing by Mouth? Seriously?

I got to eat and drink for awhile after I got there, but there was a point where they said no more...I can't remember when that was, though. I will tell you it was one of the most MISERABLE parts of labor for me. I ended up with a c-section and in recovery wanted water even more than I wanted to see my baby, that's how thirsty I was

Oh, and ETA - I am in the US.

As with pretty much everything having to do with birth--check with YOUR hospital! the hospital's protocol will have a tremendous impact on your birthing experience.

as for the hospital i am going to, they do let you eat and drink until active labor. at that point it is clear fluids only (water, maybe lemonade? maybe tea? not sure what constitutes as "clear") that being said--i am fairly certain if i am starving, i can get dh to sneak me a snack in the bathroom or something lastly, my midwife said that quite honestly, most women like to eat and drink up to active labor, once transition occurs her experience is that food is waaaay out of your thoughts.

Why do they cut off food at a certain point in labor? That doesn't make sense to me. I can't imagine being hungry or thirsty and not "allowed" to eat or drink. Also, having to sneak in food while in the bathroom sounds nuts! I wonder where they get this reasoning. It just rubs me the wrong way, like they know what's best for me better than I do, ykwim? I don't care what stage of labor I'm in, if I want food, you better give it to me dag nammit!!

The "crunchy" hospital here gives you menus to take out restaurants and doesn't restrict at all. Most of the others restrict is a lot. It is crazy and sad. I ate a chicken sandwich through transition during my UC.

I was not told to eat I knew that was not going to work so I packed things like preztel nibblits and crackers and stuff. I would shove a whole bunch in my mouth everytime someone left my room. Then one nurse came inbecasue she forget something as I was putting a bunch in my mouth and she made me spit them out and took my bag away...The hospital I am delivering at now encourages eating during labor..so I think it's different everywhere. Oh and she did give them back to be after the baby was born

DDC crashing -

No, not all hospitals do this. In the city I live in, there are a wide variety of hospital policies on eating and drinking in labor.

The hospital where I gave birth to DS allowed nothing but clear liquids by mouth. They were happy to bring me water, juice, ginger ale, Italian ices, and popsicles, right up until they put in the epidural. At that point, they wanted me NPO in case I needed surgery. I have heard of hospitals stretching the definition of "clear liquids" pretty far - a friend of mine had doctors who behaved as though chocolate ice cream was a clear liquid.

I went to a different hospital for DD - I initially selected a midwifery practice at a hospital that would have allowed me to eat and drink whatever I wanted during a normal delivery, but I wound up transferred to a different hospital for an emergency c-section. That hospital kept me NPO, but they knew they'd be sectioning me and that they might have to put me under, so I kind of forgive them. I have no idea what that hospital's usual policy is on food and drink during labor, I do know that they got me food pretty fast once the NPO order was lifted.

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Yes they do this and depending on the nurse you have they will either be insane enforcing the rule or look the other way. There's a great chapter in The Thinking Womans Guide all about it and it has sources for studies proving the theory is false and harmful.

When I delivered in the hospital my MW (there as a doula) hand fed me fruit pieces. It made a huge difference in my energy level. I think that it's a policy worth investigating and worth the fight to be 'allowed' to eat. Some folks bring in food for their birthpartner and sneak it.