A randomized controlled trial of early feeding after caesarean section

Abstract EN

Objective: To assess the advantages and disadvantages of starting oral fluids 6 hours post-Caesarian Section, regardless there is evidence of intestinal movements, in comparison to the traditional method of awaiting intestinal movements to be well established.

Design: A controlled randomized trial.

Subjects And Methods: Two hundred and fifty-two women were randomized into two groups.

Group 1 was managed according to the new protocol, where oral fluids were commenced 6 hours post-Caesarean Section, regardless whether there was evidence of intestinal movements.

Group 2, the control group, was managed in the traditional way, where oral fluids were withheld until bowel sounds were clearly audible and/or the patient passed flatus.

We looked for the first bowel motion, hospital stay, frequency of nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, abdominal colic and paralytic ileus.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference between both groups as regards the frequency of nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, abdominal colic and paralytic ileus.

The first bowel motion occurred on average 14.4 + 1.7 hours earlier in women on the new protocol.

Hospital stay was 10.0 + 2.2 hours shorter in women on the new protocol.

Conclusion: Resumption of oral fluids 6 hours post- Caesarean Section, regardless there is evidence of intestinal movements, is an effective and safe way of stimulation of bowel movements.

It decreases patients' discomfort and hospital stay.