BACKGROUND Epidural fentanyl doses above 100 μg have been shown, using the paracetamol absorption test, to reduce gastric emptying in fasted labouring women. OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of fentanyl dose on gastric emptying in nonfasted labouring women using gastric ultrasonography. DESIGN A double-blinded randomised controlled study. SETTING A tertiary medical centre in Tel Aviv, Israel between 30 July 2020 and 11 October 2020. PATIENTS Eighty labouring women with cervical dilation 5 cm or less, at least 18 years age, at least 37 weeks gestation with a singleton pregnancy and cephalad foetus. INTERVENTIONS Women randomised to high (>100 μg) or low (