the median intake of study solution was 200 ml [range 15 to 200 ml] in the
placebo group and 200 ml (10 ml to 200 ml) in the carbohydrate group (P = 0.42).113 There were
no significant differences in spontaneous birth (RR 1.07 [95% CI 0.88 to 1.30]), instrumental
birth (RR 1.05 [95% CI 0.69 to 1.60]) or CS (RR 0.15 [95% CI 0.02 to 1.16]) when the carbohydrate group was compared with the placebo group. No significant differences were observed in neonatal outcome: Apgar scores at 1 minute (P = 0.22), Apgar scores at 5 minutes (P = 0.32) or the arterial umbilical cord pH (P = 0.80), when the carbohydrate group was compared with the
placebo group. In addition, when the carbohydrate and placebo groups were compared, there
were no significant differences in changes in glucose (P = 1.00), lactate (P = 0.07) or plasma β-hydroxybutyrate (P = 0.21). There was a significant decrease in free fatty acid levels (P = 0.02), with the carbohydrate group tending to decrease to a higher degree.