Early versus delayed oral feeding after cesarean delivery.

OBJECTIVE To compare possible adverse gastrointestinal effects after cesarean section in women who took their first meal early compared with those whose first meal was delayed (8 h versus 24 h). METHODS A total of 151 pregnant women with indications for cesarean section but no medical, obstetric, or surgical complications were randomized to two groups, the early oral feeding group (75 women) and the delayed oral feeding group (76 women), at Rajavithi Hospital from November 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003. RESULTS There were no significant demographic differences between the two groups but there were significant differences in amount of blood loss, time to first bowel sound, and duration of intravenous fluid infusion and Foley catheter use. All these were less in the early feeding group, but there were no significant differences in postoperative gastrointestinal complications. CONCLUSION Early oral feeding after cesarean delivery (8 h) caused no significant adverse gastrointestinal effects compared with delayed feeding (24 h).