Postoperative Oral Feeding After Cesarean Section—Early Versus Late Initiation: A Prospective Randomized Trial

Abstract

Abstract Introduction and objectives: Early initiation of oral feeding after caesarean delivery is well-tolerated by patients, but is not yet practiced in most institutions. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of early initiation of oral feeding in postcaesarean patients, compared with delayed feeding. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in the department of obstetrics and Gynecology of Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, India, from July 1, 2008 to Oct 31, 2008. Two hundred (200) consecutive women undergoing uncomplicated caesarean section under regional anesthesia were included. They were divided into two groups: patients in group A (n = 100) were allowed sips of water orally within 6 hours postsurgery, followed by gradual dietary expansion; patients in group B (n = 100) were allowed oral sips after return of bowel sounds. Demographic, intraoperative, and postoperative outcomes were recorded and analyzed. Results: Demographic and intraoperative observations were comparable in both grou...