When I worked in the Family Birthing Center in Southfield, MI, we encouraged
moms to eat to hunger and drink to thirst during labor.  They picked and
chose as they wanted.  We had less vomiting and nausea than in the hospital,
the moms were a good judge of what they needed, and because they were eating
and not starving, were a lot stronger and had more energy for birthing their
babies.  One of my favorite memories is a mom, balancing a bowl of peaches on
her huge tummy - at 9 cm.  Occasionally we would have a mom that would have a
heavy bleed pp, but we were always able to get a line in and give the
appropriate meds.  We also used nipple stimulation for bleeding, and if the
baby wouldn't latch on, dad would!

And, our babies did latch on, bf well, and we had minimal problems.  I
certainly would not have made a living as an LC there!!  (Would that I
couldn't make a living now, because I wasn't needed, not because everyone
uses formula!!)

Jan B.