The literature confirms that most maternal deaths were due not to aspiration, but rather to difficult or failed intubation by an inexperienced anesthesiologist. Withholding food and beverage from millions of laboring women and their babies may be justified to save the lives and health of a few, if it significantly reduces the already small risk of aspiration. The scientific literature confirms her statement. No outcomes data shows that laboring women kept NPO are less likely to die due to aspiration than those that ate or drank. This suggests that fasting during labor does not ensure an empty stomach or reduce risk of aspiration.
Anesthesiologists are aware of the slow emptying of the stomach as labor approaches.
This suggests that eating or not eating during labor has little or no affect on aspiration risk or on anesthesia practice. Experiences shared by some voters in the poll add weight to the evidence against NPO policies. But when I started to practice in Alaska, I found no limits were placed on intake. Many drank pop, juice and water along with snacks like chips freely without problems. Several commentators suggest that an NPO policy may actually increase the very risk it seeks to reduce.