Early walking and coffee after cesarean to help bowel recovery, pain, and mood

The Effect of Early Post-Cesarean Mobilization and Caffeine Consumption on Bowel Motility, Pain, and Psychological Well-being: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study will try early walking plus caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee in women after cesarean to see if it speeds bowel recovery, lowers pain, and improves mood.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 35 Years
• Sex: Female
• Sponsor: KTO Karatay University (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Konya)
• Trial ID: NCT07369726 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This single-center interventional study enrolls women aged 18–35 who had cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia and report postoperative pain of 4 or higher. Participants receive an early mobilization program and are assigned to consume either caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee after surgery. Researchers will track time to return of bowel motility, gas passage, pain scores, and measures of psychological well-being using standard scales and observation. The protocol excludes emergency cesareans, major pregnancy complications, chronic gastrointestinal disease, regular heavy coffee drinkers, caffeine sensitivity, and intraoperative complications.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are Turkish-speaking women aged 18–35 who had an elective cesarean under spinal anesthesia, have postoperative pain ≥4, are not regular coffee drinkers, and have no chronic GI disease or surgical complications.

Not a fit: Patients with caffeine sensitivity or allergy, chronic gastrointestinal disease, regular high coffee intake, emergency cesarean, intraoperative complications, or inability to follow the protocol are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could shorten the time to bowel recovery, reduce postoperative pain, and improve mood after cesarean delivery.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies in abdominal surgery suggest early ambulation and coffee can modestly speed return of bowel function, but evidence specifically in cesarean patients is limited.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Being between 18 and 35 years of age,
2. Women who underwent cesarean delivery under spinal anesthesia,
3. Having a post-cesarean pain level of 4 or higher,
4. Being able to understand and write Turkish and communicate effectively with researchers.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Women who underwent emergency cesarean delivery,
2. Those with pregnancy complications (preeclampsia, placenta previa, etc.),
3. Those with a history of chronic gastrointestinal disease (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis),
4. Those with sensitivity or allergy to caffeine,
5. Those with a history of chronic pain syndrome or dependence on analgesics,
6. Regular coffee drinkers (≥2 cups per day),
7. Intraoperative complications such as bowel or bladder injury,

i) Those who cannot comply with the study protocol or complete the follow-up process.

Removal Criteria:

1. Participants are excluded from the study under the following conditions:
2. During surgery If complications occur (e.g., bladder or bowel injury, excessive bleeding),
3. Postoperative complications requiring admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) for the mother or newborn,
4. Development of severe postoperative nausea, vomiting, or intolerance to oral intake,
5. Inability to consume or refusal to consume coffee according to the study protocol,
6. Withdrawal of consent by the participant at any point during the study,
7. Failure to comply with surgical procedures or loss of follow-up,
8. Development of medical conditions during follow-up that may affect study results (e.g., acute infections, neurological disorders).

Where this trial is running

Konya

• KTO Karatay University — Konya, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Hafize D Dağ TÜZMEN

Conditions Gastrointestinal Motility; Postoperative Pain; Psychological Well-Being; gastrointestinal motility; postoperatif pain; Early Ambulation