A Comparative Study of Early Versus Conventional Initiation of Oral Fluid Intake After the Caesarean Section.

Background: Caesarean delivery is an abdominal surgery and hydration and nutrition during postoperative care is a main concern for women. It is customary to give oral fluids only after 24 hours following the return of bowel sounds. Early oral fluid intake has been recommended for women after caesarean delivery, which may improve earlier gastrointestinal recovery that can facilitate early discharge from hospital. In this study, the patient recovery is compared between the traditional practice of fluid intake versus early fluid intake.

Aim: To compare the efficacy and side effects of early postoperative oral fluid intake versus delayed or conventional oral fluid intake in patients after caesarean section under regional anaesthesia.

Methods: A comparative observational study was conducted on 100 term pregnant women who underwent an uncomplicated caesarean section under regional anaesthesia at the NRI Institute of Medical Sciences, Visakhapatnam, from August 2023 to January 2024. Women were randomized to early and delayed feeding group after taking informed consent. One set of 50 women in the early-fed group were offered a liquid diet within 6-8 hours after surgery and a soft diet in the next 14-16 hours. In another set, 50 women in the control group were offered conventional fluid intake 16-24 hours after the surgery.

Results: Women in the early-fed group had a lower duration of intravenous fluid (IV) fluid administration. There were significant differences between the two groups in the duration of intravenous fluid administration, lesser time interval for flatus passage, reduced rate of ileus symptoms and length of hospital stay. The early-fed group had a significantly shorter mean postoperative time interval to return of bowel sound, passage of flatus and stools (P<0.0001) and also shorter hospital stay.

Conclusion: Early feeding after an uncomplicated caesarean section reduces the rate of ileus symptoms, duration of intravenous fluid administration and leads to a reduced hospital stay with higher maternal satisfaction rates.