View Full Version : Chewing gum and caesareans
I came across this and thought it might be helpful for those of you having a caesarean. It would appear that chewing gum after cesarean delivery may speed the return of bowel function:
"a randomized trial of gum-chewing after cesarean delivery. They randomized 32 patients who had delivered by cesarean and found that patients who chewed gum 3 times each day soon after their delivery either passed flatus or defecated on average 15.5 hours earlier than those in the control group (28.4 vs 43.9 hours, respectively, P = .004)".
excessive consumption of most(if not all gums) usually gives you a laxative effect...so I dont think its really just about c sections, if they gave it to mums who had VBs they would probably be the same. or anyone really.
SilverStarfish
23-07-2007, 12:07
Chewing stimulates digestion, which could help break down food faster and aid in the production of... gas... :o Might work :laughing:
SassyMummy
23-07-2007, 12:09
Why would anyone necessarily WANT to poo 15.5 hours earlier than they would have? :laughing: I mean, after my caesarean, opening my bowels was NOT on my checklist... I could not have cared less!
well coming from someone who has had 2 VBs(not that thats relevant really) and both times been REAL constipated, the 15.5 hours earlier woulda been nice :laughing:
Shanaynay
23-07-2007, 13:40
I think it's a great tip - I remember being STARVING after my c/s, and until I'd done a poo :o, they wouldn't give me anything decent to eat. I don't think I did one till day 3 or 4!
MummyCharmzy
23-07-2007, 14:07
yep earlier would have been nicer after my csects too lol have to remember to pack some gum next time and try it out.... much nicer than anything they'd give you in hosp to help speed it up!!
Why would anyone necessarily WANT to poo 15.5 hours earlier than they would have? :laughing: I mean, after my caesarean, opening my bowels was NOT on my checklist... I could not have cared less!
MUAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAAAAAAAAaaaaaa:laughing: :laughing:
nicly put......
missie_mack
23-07-2007, 16:40
Yeah that is a interesting piece of information to store :thumbsup:
When I had my c section they wouldn't let me eat until I passed wind and wouldn't let me leave until I had poo'd. Anything that would speed up the waiting time would've been wonderful!
SassyMummy
23-07-2007, 17:18
Oh, yeah, I remember getting asked about whether or not I'd "opened by bowels," but it was never a big issue. I was still given food (I think). I dunno.. maybe that was because I passed wind not long after my c-sec.
The hospital food was pretty rubbishy though... I would have been happy not to have eaten it...lol.
THE FOLLOWING MAY BE TMI:
It would be nice if they had offered me something to SOFTEN it though... I thought it was taking ages because I was scared to push due to possible pain... but it was the biggest, most massive looking poo I have ever seen. That first poo was a scary freak-poo. Is that common, or am I just a post-caesarean poo-freak?
i am under the understanding that the hospital food is actually planned to help you go to the loo... and yes they gave me softeners, I thought that was routine?(i had VBs though) i thought for poop its all the same...
Mamaduke
23-07-2007, 19:45
I think it's a great tip - I remember being STARVING after my c/s, and until I'd done a poo :o, they wouldn't give me anything decent to eat. I don't think I did one till day 3 or 4!
Yes yes yes...I too was absolutely famished after my c/s and those rotten cows just kept asking me "have you had a bowel movement yet?" or "have you passed any wind yet?"...
You should have seen me hit that buzzer the first time I dropped one!
Happy Days...Happy Days! :smiliedance:
I think it's a great tip - I remember being STARVING after my c/s, and until I'd done a poo , they wouldn't give me anything decent to eat. I don't think I did one till day 3 or 4!
I had dinner that night! I delivered (well, they cut her out of me :laughing: ) at 1:04 in the arvo and they gave me dinner that night.
Then the next day they told me I had to tell them when I wanted to pee and do it in a potty thing, placed in the loo. I kept feeling like I needed to but couldn't till about the 3rd day and when I did the little potty thing was almost overflowing, I had THAT much wee in me! :eek:
The hospital food was pretty rubbishy though... I would have been happy not to have eaten it...lol.
THE FOLLOWING MAY BE TMI:
It would be nice if they had offered me something to SOFTEN it though... I thought it was taking ages because I was scared to push due to possible pain... but it was the biggest, most massive looking poo I have ever seen. That first poo was a scary freak-poo. Is that common, or am I just a post-caesarean poo-freak?
Post-Caesarian poo freak! :laughing:
My hospy food was awesome. I remember coming home, and wishing I was back there just for the food and the regularity of it cos DH didn't really help in that dept and I kept forgetting to eat. It sounds hard to beleive but I really did, I would think....I better make some lunch, and then the baby would cry out and I would tend to her and then forget about eating. I got by, but it was much better having it delivered everyday...a bit like room service at a Hotel, but free!
I can't remember exactly how my poo was but I do rememebr being really scared to push too hard and it was pretty monstrous! I didn't poo till the 4th day or something, so I would've been absolutley STARVING if I'd of had to wait till I'd pooed to eat! :laughing:
WeloveHarriet
24-07-2007, 10:43
What a funny thread!!! LOL.
I was more scared to poop after my c-section then I was after my normal birth - which my sister thought was hilarious.
The nurses kept asking me whether I had passed wind and I kept telling them that I do not pass wind unless I go to the toilet (I know my family all think that I am a freak but this is the way I am!!) so eventually they gave up and started feeding me 20hrs after the operation.
thats great news!
i am mad-obsessed with jila mints and extra chewy and cant handle my own breath for more than 20 mins without that minty freshness.
guess ill be pooping straight away ey!
GeorgiaAnne
09-12-2008, 10:32
I think it's a great tip - I remember being STARVING after my c/s, and until I'd done a poo :o, they wouldn't give me anything decent to eat. I don't think I did one till day 3 or 4!
That's a bit mean not to feed you! I was starving after my c-secs. Poo wise, (:laughing:) 2nd time I had gotten to 10 cm and pushing then c-sec so it was worse as my midwife not so delicately described it "It will feel like all your guts are gonna fall out!" :D Noice!
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