pregnant and on a clear liquid diet

Published

I'm newly registered though I've been lurking for a while. I'm a second semester nursing student. My question does not have to do with a patient experience but rather a personal one.

I have a friend, we'll call her S. She is 39 weeks pregnant and is admitted to the local hospital for as she put it, a "gall bladder infection". Being that she is a friend rather than a patient, I do not have access to her chart and she is not very specific on what is going on. She has been having the same issue since she was at least 5 weeks pregnant (so she says). Her doctor doesn't want to do anything until the baby is born. Her diet consists mainly of fast food (as far as I know she is not on any prenatal vitamins or healthy diet).

So now she has been put on a clear liquid diet. And she is refusing to eat it. She wants McDonalds or Burger King or Wendy's. She made a comment on facebook how she's refusing the clear liquid diet and now "the IV will just have to take care of her" (which I am assuming is TPN).

I've tried talking to her about how she won't feel better if she doesn't listen to the drs and nurses or that she at least needs to listen to them for the good of the baby.

Any advise from nurses that have delt with this kind of thing?:confused:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental Health, Medical Research, Periop.

I remember being on a clear liquid diet when pregnant it was very hard. I'm sure you're trying your best, but she sounds like she's going to do what she wants to no matter what. Do you know if the doctor gave her the risk factors/rationale of why he placed her on this particular diet? I wish I could give you better advice, sorry. Good Luck to you and your friend (and baby).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

She doesn't give me much info (she know's I'll "side" with the dr. since dr.'s are bad guys:banghead:) And typically we just text and chat on facebook. She texted me a few minutes ago and said they've upped her to chicken broth and she's eating (drinking??) it. I told her I'm not trying to be mean or bossy. . . I just want what's best for her and the baby.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental Health, Medical Research, Periop.
She doesn't give me much info (she know's I'll "side" with the dr. since dr.'s are bad guys:banghead:) And typically we just text and chat on facebook. She texted me a few minutes ago and said they've upped her to chicken broth and she's eating (drinking??) it. I told her I'm not trying to be mean or bossy. . . I just want what's best for her and the baby.

You're being a good friend, maybe she will give it (the diet) a try. Once you've done all you can, that's all you can do. She has to take care of herself. Much luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Unfortunately....... we cannot give medical advice on this site and it is in violation of the terms and agreement. Make sure she seeks medical advice...alert her family......I hope she feels better

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

We can't give medical advice. But from a student perspective this is a good lesson. As a nurse you often care about your patients and their life choices. But the best you can do is educate them on their choice to the best of your ability and accept their decision. Often I wish an alcoholic patient would quit drinking or a seriously obese patient would at least try to make better food choices. But most of the time they dont, and I have to accept that I have tried my best.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

What suggests that she is on TPN? TPN comes with its own risks and is extremely expensive. A fluid diet should be including chicken broth and jelly (jello) anyway.

As a nurse all you can do is educate and and document. You give people the information but if they choose not to comply you can do nothing about it. But document document document. These are frequently the same people that will put in a formal complaint.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If she is have an acute gall bladder attack, they would have her on a clear liquid diet until the attack subsides. They may take the gb out after she delivers.

Per TOS, that's about all I can say.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, ICU, Education.

When she's hungry, she'll eat/drink. The alternative is much, much worse.

It's nice of you to worry about your friend and her unborn child. Kudos to you for caring.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.
I'm newly registered though I've been lurking for a while. I'm a second semester nursing student. My question does not have to do with a patient experience but rather a personal one.

I have a friend, we'll call her S. She is 39 weeks pregnant and is admitted to the local hospital for as she put it, a "gall bladder infection". Being that she is a friend rather than a patient, I do not have access to her chart and she is not very specific on what is going on. She has been having the same issue since she was at least 5 weeks pregnant (so she says). Her doctor doesn't want to do anything until the baby is born. Her diet consists mainly of fast food (as far as I know she is not on any prenatal vitamins or healthy diet).

So now she has been put on a clear liquid diet. And she is refusing to eat it. She wants McDonalds or Burger King or Wendy's. She made a comment on facebook how she's refusing the clear liquid diet and now "the IV will just have to take care of her" (which I am assuming is TPN).

I've tried talking to her about how she won't feel better if she doesn't listen to the drs and nurses or that she at least needs to listen to them for the good of the baby.

Any advise from nurses that have delt with this kind of thing?:confused:

The OP is not asking for medical advice, the OP is asking for general nutritional information that can be found on any internet resource.

Here is the bottom line: Your friend is being childish and if she gets hungry enough, she will eat whatever is in front of her, liquid or not. If she wants to live with hunger pain, then I wouldn't worry about it.

However, my concern is that this is a major reflection on her future parenting skills. She is not willing to put her baby first and I will predict once the baby gets here, she will continue to put HERSELF first and the baby will get shafted.

Prenatal care is a good indicator/predictor of parenting abilities.

With that said, with her being 39 weeks and hospitalized...the liquid diet can serve two reasons.

1) To allow her attack to subside.

2) They are expecting her to possibly need surgery, ie. c-section.

It is easier to clear out a patient's system on a liquid diet than one that has food, especially if they think she is at high risk for that sort of thing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Okay, I'm not an OB nurse but why not deliver the baby if she is 39 weeks pregnant?

IMHO, that then allows her to get on with whatever medical care she needs.

Honestly, at 39 weeks doubt nutrition talk is going to matter.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU, Post-partum.
Okay, I'm not an OB nurse but why not deliver the baby if she is 39 weeks pregnant?

IMHO, that then allows her to get on with whatever medical care she needs.

Honestly, at 39 weeks doubt nutrition talk is going to matter.

When I was an intern, would you believe there was a woman that came into the OB, with "preterm" labor..she was 37 weeks along and they administered IV meds in order to stop her labor. I can't remember exactly which drug.

I couldn't believe it. Well, she had a major, vagal reaction and that was the end of that.

However, I couldn't believe the physician did that to start with. She delivered her baby later on that night, which was roughly 7 1/2 lbs.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion