What is the purpose of restricting food and fluids after midnight before a scheduled C-section?

The purpose of restricting food and fluids after midnight before a scheduled C-section is to prevent aspiration during anesthesia. This is a critical measure taken to minimize the risk of the patient inhaling stomach contents into the lungs while under general or regional anesthesia. When a person has food or fluids in their stomach, there is a higher chance that these contents could be regurgitated and then aspirated, which can lead to serious complications such as aspiration pneumonia.

By fasting prior to surgery, the stomach is allowed to empty, significantly reducing this risk and ensuring a safer anesthetic experience for the mother. This practice is standard in surgical protocols to enhance patient safety during procedures that require anesthesia. Other options, while important in their own contexts, do not address the specific risks associated with anesthesia during a C-section.