Effects of Chewing Gum, Fennel, and Ginger Tea on Intestinal Motility and Comfort After Cesarean

NCT07125742 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 479-479-26
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 128
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of chewing gum, fennel tea, and ginger tea consumption on intestinal motility and postpartum comfort in women following cesarean section. The primary research questions to be answered are: Do chewing gum, fennel tea, or ginger tea accelerate the onset of bowel sounds after cesarean section? Do these interventions affect the time to first gas passage, defecation, and feeling of hunger? Are there differences among these interventions in terms of their impact on abdominal distension and postpartum comfort? Researchers will compare the effects of the interventions between three groups: chewing gum, fennel tea, and ginger tea. Participants: Women who underwent cesarean section and voluntarily agreed to participate in the study. A total of 96 participants were randomly assigned into three groups of 32 each. Interventions and procedures: Starting 6 hours after cesarean section (following first oral fluid intake), at the 8th and 10th hours: The chewing gum group was asked to chew sugar-free gum for 15 minutes at each time point. The fennel tea group received 2 g of fennel steeped in 150 ml boiling water for 10 minutes. The ginger tea group received 2 g of fresh ginger steeped in 150 ml boiling water for 10 minutes. Bowel sounds were auscultated before and 60 minutes after each intervention. The time of first gas passage, first defecation, and first feeling of hunger was recorded. Abdominal distension was assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) six times in total (before and 60 minutes after each intervention). Postpartum Comfort Scale was applied to all participants at the 12th hour post-cesarean. All data were collected by the researchers. Randomization was supported by a healthcare professional not involved in the study.

Conditions

Flatulence; Constipation in Postnatal Women

Keywords

Women; Fennel; Chewing Gum; Ginger; Cesarean

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Assessment of postoperative abdominal distension severity following cesarean section using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

  In this study, the primary outcome is the determination of the severity of abdominal distension after cesarean section using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). VAS is a subjective tool frequently used in epidemiological and clinical research to measure the intensity of various symptoms, particularly pain. Its validity and reliability have been previously established. The scale used in this study is the simplest vertical form, 10 cm in length. In other words, the number 0 represents "no abdominal distension", while the number 10 indicates "the worst level of abdominal distension." Using this scale, participants were asked to assess the severity of their abdominal distension.

  Postoperative 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th hours

• Evaluation of the time to return of postoperative intestinal motility

  Postoperative intestinal motility: In all groups, the times to first bowel movement, first flatus, first defecation, and first sensation of hunger after cesarean section were evaluated.

  Postoperative 48 hour

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Assessment of the Postnatal Comfort Scale

  Postoperative 12 hour

Study Arms (4)

Chewing gum

EXPERIMENTAL

Starting 6 hours after cesarean section (following first oral fluid intake), at the 8th and 10th hours: The chewing gum group was asked to chew sugar-free gum for 15 minutes at each time point.

Other: Chewing gum

Fennel Tea

EXPERIMENTAL

Starting 6 hours after cesarean section (following first oral fluid intake), at the 8th and 10th hours: fennel tea group received 2 g of fennel steeped in 150 ml boiling water for 10 minutes.

Other: Fennel Tea

Ginger Tea

EXPERIMENTAL

Starting 6 hours after cesarean section (following first oral fluid intake), at the 8th and 10th hours: The ginger tea group received 2 g of fresh ginger steeped in 150 ml boiling water for 10 minutes.

Other: Ginger Tea

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

No intervention will be applied.

Interventions

Chewing gum OTHER

The chewing gum group was asked to chew sugar-free gum for 15 minutes at each time point.

Chewing gum

Fennel Tea OTHER

Fennel Tea: The fennel tea group received 2 g of fennel steeped in 150 ml boiling water for 10 minutes.

Fennel Tea

Ginger Tea OTHER

Ginger Tea: The ginger tea group received 2 g of fresh ginger steeped in 150 ml boiling water for 10 minutes.

Ginger Tea

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 45 Years
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• The participant mother's voluntary participation in the study and provision of written and verbal informed consent,
• Having undergone general anesthesia,
• Having at least basic reading and writing skills,
• Being between 38-42 gestational weeks,
• According to the mother's statement and medical records, having no history of asthma, liver disease, cancer, epilepsy, or similar conditions,
• No history of allergies,
• Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.50-24.99 kg/m².

You may not qualify if:

• The participant mother's unwillingness to continue cooperating in the study,
• Having received spinal anesthesia,
• Being under 18 years of age,
• Being over 45 years of age,
• Inability to chew gum,
• Experiencing nausea or similar side effects during the consumption of fennel or ginger,
• The mother's refusal to consume fennel or ginger tea or to chew gum during the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Uşak University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Uşak University

Uşak, 64200, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Flatulence

Interventions

Chewing Gum

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Signs and Symptoms, Digestive; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Plant Gums; Biopolymers; Polymers; Macromolecular Substances; Polysaccharides; Carbohydrates; Plant Exudates; Biological Products; Complex Mixtures; Candy; Food; Diet, Food, and Nutrition; Physiological Phenomena; Food and Beverages

Study Officials

• Şeyma ÇATALGÖL, Dr

  Uşak University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 6, 2025
• First Posted: August 15, 2025
• Study Start: November 18, 2024
• Primary Completion: August 16, 2025
• Study Completion: August 16, 2025
• Last Updated: September 8, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)