The Relationship Between Maternal Fluid Intake During Labor and Neonatal Weight Loss: A Review of the Literature

Introduction: Though in-hospital supplementation of the newborn is associated with decreased breastfeeding success, excessive neonatal weight loss is a medical indication for supplementation. Studies have theorized that maternal fluid intake during labor may impact neonatal weight loss, resulting in unnecessary supplementation. The purpose of this review was to synthesize evidence regarding the relationship between maternal fluid intake during labor and neonatal weight loss. Methods: Literature searches were conducted in relevant databases using controlled vocabulary. The main findings and outcomes were compared across studies and calculations conducted to report the proportion of studies reporting significant findings. Results: 11 studies were included in the review. Overall, 7 studies (64%) identified a significant relationship between maternal fluid intake during labor and neonatal weight loss. Conclusion: Given the risk to the newborn associated with excessive weight loss, it is not prudent to incorporate maternal fluid intake into supplementation guidelines based on existing evidence. Further research is needed before practice recommendations can be made.