The Effect of Preoperative Oral Carbohydrate on Breastfeeding After Cesarean Section: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Delay in the initiation of breastfeeding is one of the problems of cesarean section. Its causes are insulin resistance, pain, anxiety, stress, thirst, hunger, and so on. Preoperative oral carbohydrate (OCH) reduces postoperative insulin resistance and improves postoperative recovery. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of preoperative oral carbohydrate on breastfeeding after cesarean section. In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 91 pregnant women who underwent elective cesarean section were randomly assigned to preoperative OCH (Nutricia Preop; n = 45) or control group (water flavored with lemon; n = 46). The patients ingested 800 ml + 400 ml of liquid before the surgery. The time to first breastfeeding after surgery (min), the duration of breastfeeding (min), and breastfeeding frequency were measured using a questionnaire for up to 36 h after the surgery. Time to first breastfeeding after surgery was significantly shorter in the OCH group than in the control group (27.47 ± 11.51 vs. 51.96 ± 20.20 min,   p< .001). The mean frequency of breastfeeding (6.14 ±  0.55 vs. 4.82 ± 0.46, p < .001) was significantly higher and the mean duration of breastfeeding (116.48 ±  19.68 vs. 82.13 ± 12.40 min, p < .001) was significantly longer in the OCH group compared with the control group in the first 36 h after the surgery. Preoperative oral carbohydrate improves breastfeeding after surgery (time to first breastfeeding, breastfeeding frequency, and breastfeeding duration). Further clinical trials and precise measurement tools are needed to assess breastfeeding to confirm these effects. The study was registered at http://www.IRCT.ir (IRCT2016072629082N1).