No effect of energy supply during childbirth on delivery outcomes in nulliparous women: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

The effect of providing oral energy supplements of energy on duration of labour and labour outcomes remains to be clarified. The purpose of this study was to examine whether extra energy supply beyond a self-regulated dietary intake during labour would shorten duration of labour in nulliparous women. A total of 213 healthy women at gestational age > 36 weeks received either 1 litre of isotonic energy-drink (n = 111) or placebo-drink (n = 102) at the start of labour. A total of 61% in the intervention group gave birth within the hospital median of 9 hours, compared with 58% in the placebo group (p = 0.68). The mean (SD) durations of labour were 528 (240) minutes and 506 (233) minutes in the intervention and placebo group (p = 0.50), respectively. Extra oral supply of 1 litre energy drink beyond self-regulated intake of food and drink to healthy nulliparous women in birth does not affect the duration of labour.