Parents-to-be who have already stocked up on all in one suits and baby carriers have been advised on whether or not to eat or drink during labour.

According to the Association of Radical Midwives (ARM), it is normal to consume food and liquid while giving birth - and women should not be prevented from doing so.

It was reacting to a review published in the Cochrane Library, which underlined how there are no benefits or disadvantages from food consumption during labour.

ARM administration secretary Sarah Montagu explained that much of the debate centres around a condition known as Mendelson's syndrome.

However, solids and liquids intake does not tend to have an effect on this, she said.

"Good anaesthetic techniques and avoiding general anaesthetics wherever possible are much more help in avoiding Mendelson's syndrome than refraining from eating and drinking," Ms Montague remarked.

The latest Office for National Statistics data, published last August, revealed there were 708,711 live births in the UK in 2008.ADNFCR-3005-ID-19575198-ADNFCR