Early Versus Late Feeding After Cesarean Delivery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

After institutional review approval, pregnant women that are scheduled for elective cesarean delivery will be approached for participation in the study. The study informed consent will be obtained. The study's time frame inclusive will be from 2013 till 2016.

Patients will be randomized to regular diet within 6 hrs postoperative (Early group) versus remaining nothing per os (NPO, i.e nothing per mouth) for 12hrs, and the diet then advanced as tolerated after 12hrs (Routine Group) as standard postoperative protocol in the investigators' institution.

Primary outcome will be time to pass flatus. Secondary outcomes will include hospital length of stay, postoperative nausea, vomiting and patient satisfaction. Randomization will be performed using a computer generated random list of numbers assigning patients to the 2 groups of the study. This list of random number assignments will be kept secure in an opaque envelope until the end of the study. Patients in the Early group will be started on regular diet within 6 hrs of surgery, whereas the routine group patients will be kept strict NPO 12hrs, and clear liquid diet will be started after 12hrs. Diet will be advanced as tolerated, i.e. if clears were tolerated or flatus or bowel movement occurred, patients will be started on solid foods. If diet not tolerated, a full liquid diet will be given instead. Consequently if patient tolerated full liquid diet, a regular diet will be then initiated. Patients will be discharged home only if they tolerate solid food with absence of emesis, have flatus or bowel movement. Time Zero is defined as time of skin incision.