kouklakis

Our anesthesia department has come out with a directive that anyone with an epidural or wanting one in labor be restricted to 30 ml per hour po fluids. The reason behind this is that if the labor moves to an operative delivery, there will be less probability of an aspiration pneumonia and the morbidity/mortality associated with it. Since many of our patients get epidurals early in labor, it may mean they would be on this fluid restriction for 12-24 hours. I have found that not only does this make women uncomfortably thirsty, it inhibits the progress of labor by decreasing the efficiency and strength of their contractions. The uterus needs to be fed to contract well. Does anyone know of any research in support this thought, or should I let anesthesia take us back into the dark ages again?