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Background: Labour is a period of significant physical activity. The importance of carbohydrate intake to improve outcome has been recognised in sports medicine and general surgery.Objectives: To assess the effect of oral carbohydrate supplementation on labour outcomes.Search Strategy: MEDLINE (1966-2014), Embase, the Cochrane Library and clinical trial registries.Selection Criteria: Randomised controlled trials (RCT) of women randomised to receive oral carbohydrate in labour (<6 cm dilated), versus placebo or standard care.Data Collection and Analysis: Authors were contacted to provide data. Individual patient data meta-analyses were performed to calculate pooled risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).Main Results: Eight RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Six authors responded, four supplied data (n = 691). Three studies used isotonic drinks (one placebo-controlled, two compared with standard care), and one an advice booklet regarding carbohydrate intake. The mean difference in energy intake between the intervention and control groups was small [three studies, 195 kilocalories (kcal), 95% CI 118-273]. There was no difference in the risk of caesarean section (RR 1.15, 95% CI 0.83- 1.61), instrumental birth (RR 1.26, 95% CI 0.96-1.66) or syntocinon augmentation (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.86-1.13). Length of labour was similar (mean difference -3.15 minutes, 95% CI -35.14 to 41.95). Restricting the analysis to primigravid women did not affect the result. Oral carbohydrates did not increase the risk of vomiting (RR 1.09, 95% CI 0.78-1.52) or 1-minute Apgar score <7 (RR 1.23, 95% CI 0.82-1.83).Authors' Conclusion: Oral carbohydrate supplements in small quantities did not alter labour outcome.Tweetable Abstract: Oral carbohydrate does not affect labour. But the difference between intervention and control equals 10 teaspoons sugar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Belgium has reported a proportionally high number of COVID-19-related deaths (Table S1, Figure S1)[1]. According to the classification system of Wu I et al i . for severity of COVID-19 symptoms, 37 (86.0%) patients had mild symptoms and four (9.3%) had severe symptoms, and two (4.7%) were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU)[3]. No patients developed severe symptoms and there were therefore no ICU admissions or deaths, and no patients developed symptoms during hospitalization. [Extracted from the article]