Objective: To compare adverse gastrointestinal (GI) effects of early post-operative regular diet versus traditional feeding for patients undergoing cesarean section (CS).

Materials and Methods: Participants randomly assigned to the early regular diet or traditional diet groups. The early regular diet group received regular diet within 6 to 12 hours post-operative CS. The traditional feeding group was given nothing orally on the day of CS, sips of water, liquid, and soft diet, respectively on day 1 post CS, and regular diet on day 2. Outcomes of interest were GI symptoms and function, as well as post CS care.

Results: The demographic, obstetrics, and operative characteristics were not significantly different between the 453 participants in the early regular diet group and the 447 participants in the traditional feeding group. The early regular diet group and the traditional feeding group received regular diet at 8.1±2.1 versus 39.1±10.8 hours post CS, respectively. The incidences of ileus symptoms and post-operative complications were similar in both groups. The early regular diet group had earlier bowel movement (13.3±8.7 versus 18.6±12.0 hours, p<0.001), less time interval to flatus (26.4±13.5 versus 33.3±16.7 hours, p<0.001), and earlier defecation (38.7±15.4 versus 47.4±16.3 hours, p<0.001). The early regular diet groups also needed less after care and short hospital stays (2.3±0.3 versus 3.0±0.4 days, p<0.001).

Conclusion: Early regular diet after CS does not increase post-operative GI symptom. It also causes earlier resumption of GI function and less post-operative care.