Immediate compared with on-demand maternal full feeding after planned caesarean delivery: a randomised trial

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate immediate compared with on-demand full maternal oral feeding after caesarean delivery STUDY DESIGN: A randomised trial.

SETTING: Obstetric unit of a university hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

POPULATION: Women admitted for a planned caesarean under spinal anaesthesia.

METHODS: Participants were randomised to a sandwich meal served immediately on return to the ward or on-demand.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes were patient satisfaction VAS (visual analog scale of 100 mm) on the feeding regimen and vomiting at 24 hours.

RESULTS: 453 women were initially enrolled, 395 were randomised and available for analysis. Median (full range) patient satisfaction VAS scores were 82 (15-100) versus 84 (0-100) mm, P = 0.88 and vomiting rates were 1/197 (0.5%) versus 2/198 (1.0%), P > 0.99 for immediate compared with on-demand feeding, respectively. The immediate versus on-demand arms first ate at a median of 105 (35-210) versus 165 (45-385) minutes, P