The Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative states that a Mother-Friendly care provider “Does not routinely employ practices and procedures
that are unsupported by scientific evidence, including but not limited to … withholding nourishment or water.”
The Cochrane Collaboration publishes a review on Restricting oral fluid and food intake during labour. (The Cochrane Collaboration publishes systematic reviews of current research on medical interventions. Their focus is on supporting evidence-based decisions in medical care.)
Lamaze Healthy Birth Practice #4: Avoid Interventions That Are Not Medically Necessary includes a section on routine restrictions of eating and drinking during labor.
