Uncomplicated Caesarean Section: is Delayed Return to Oral Feeding Necessary?

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To asses the feasibility and practicability of resuming oral feeding six hours after caesarean section.  METHODS: Eighty five women undergoing primary caesarean section at proprietary hospital in Lagos Nigeria were randomised into two groups of commencement of oral feeding six hours after surgery and waiting for at least 24hours for bowel sounds to return.RESULTS: In 27(64.3%) of the 42 patients in the routine feeding group, normal bowel sounds were present about 24hours after the operation as against 37(86.0%) of 43 in the early feeding group(X2 = 5.41;p= 0.02 , OR = 3.43 ; 1.06 – 11.5). While 93.0%(40) of the patients in early feeding group had bowel motion within 48hours , only 69.0%(29) of the patients in the routine feeding group had bowel motion within same period( X2 = 6.50 ; p = 0.01). The percentage of mothers that were ambulant within 48hours were more in the early feeding group (83.7%) compared to the routine feeding group (61.9%) -X2 = 5.12; p = 0.02). The overall gastrointestinal morbidity among the early feeding group was higher (18.6%) compared to routine feeding group (11.9%) but the difference was not statistically significant(X2 = 0.13; p = 0.72, OR = 1.54; CI = 0.38 – 6.33). CONCLUSION: Early oral finding is not only feasible but practicable.

Key words: Caesarean Section, Oral Feeding