Aim: To compare time to regular diet tolerance among conventional schedule, early oral feeding and early oral feeding plus domperidone in postcesarean women and to investigate these protocols on other aspects of postoperative well-being.

Methods: During July 2014 to June 2015, 120 postcesarean women were randomly assigned to three groups. Group A, conventional schedule: women fasted for 18-24 h postoperatively, then sipped water, had a liquid diet, soft diet, and regular diet, consecutively. Group B, early oral feeding: women started sipping water at 3-8 h postoperatively, followed by a soft and then a regular diet. Group C consumed the same as group B, plus domperidone.

Results: Median time to regular diet tolerance was 52.3 (50.8-54.7), 28.5 (24.8-31.4), and 29.6 (26.5-44.8) h (P < 0.001) in groups A, B and C, respectively. The two early feeding groups had significantly earlier ambulation and shorter hospitalization compared with the control. There were no differences between the two early feeding groups. The rate of postoperative gastrointestinal symptoms, pain scores and patients' satisfaction scores were similar among the three groups.

Conclusion: Early oral feeding does not significantly increase postoperative complications; however, is associated with earlier regular diet intake. Apparently, domperidone does not enhance postoperative gastrointestinal function.