Why mums are chewing gum after having a c-section
There's a medical reason for post-op gum chewing, say experts...
After giving birth via a caesarean, the last thing you’re probably thinking about is how much you’re desperately craving a piece of gum.
But a new study says that chewing a stick of gum 3 times per day, for half an hour at a time, could actually be beneficial for new mums who’ve just had a c-section.
Here’s the weird bit: you only need to chew the gum until you fart.
???
New research published in The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine suggests that gum-chewing helps to restore your body’s gut function to what it should be.
It also helps prevent post-operative ileus, a condition which slows or stops the bowels entirely, and can cause stomach pain, bloating and nausea.
Post-op ileus can affect anyone after stomach surgery of any kind – it’s often thought to be caused by inflammation after opening the abdomen – and reportedly affects 1 in 5 of mums who’ve had a c-section.
It’s also said that trying to eat is a pretty good way to keep this condition at bay – perhaps not the best option if you’re feeling sick post-op.
So, chewing gum seems like the right idea ?
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