Is Passing Gas After a Cesarean Section Similar to a Regular Belch?

After cesarean section, doctors or nurses will press on the woman's abdomen to promote gas expulsion. Generally, gas expulsion after cesarean section refers to farting, and it usually takes 24 to 48 hours for intestinal function to gradually recover.

After cesarean section, abdominal bloating may occur, mainly due to the abdominal surgery performed on the mother. During the surgery, the intestine is irritated and intestinal motility is weakened. It usually takes 24 to 48 hours for intestinal function to gradually recover. Anal gas expulsion (farting) is a sign of intestinal motility, indicating that the mother's intestinal function has basically recovered.

1. The mother can drink water or consume a small amount of sugary liquid diet, such as lotus root starch, six hours after the surgery to help with gas expulsion. She can also drink carrot soup to help with gas expulsion, and eat small meals frequently to avoid increasing the burden on the gastrointestinal tract.

2. Appropriate clockwise abdominal massage can promote intestinal motility and help expel residual blood in the uterus and vagina, thereby promoting uterine contraction.

3. Foot bottom hot compress and massage, based on the theory of foot reflex zones, can stimulate the corresponding reflex zones to promote early anal gas expulsion and early eating, which is beneficial for nutritional supplementation and early recovery.

4. Taking traditional Chinese medicine gas expulsion decoction is a commonly used method after obstetric surgery. It contains herbs such as Magnolia officinalis, Artemisia argyi, green tangerine peel, Scutellaria baicalensis, Amomum villosum, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei Preparata, Poria cocos, and Semen Raphani. After being boiled, it is divided into two doses and taken at six hours after the surgery.

5. Negative pressure anal catheter gas expulsion is a method used in the past for intestinal distention. Gas accumulation in the intestinal cavity is mainly expelled through intestinal pressure and abdominal massage. When the intestinal pressure is equal to atmospheric pressure, gas accumulation no longer escapes. Although abdominal massage can increase the amount of gas expelled, the gas can flow freely within the intestinal cavity, and satisfactory gas expulsion effect cannot be achieved quickly. Multiple gas expulsions are often required.