"Paula Method Exercises" after caesarean postoperative distension and distention-related pain effect on prevention: randomized controlled study

Objective: This research was conducted to determine the effect of "Paula Method Exercises" on preventing postoperative distension and distension-related pain after cesarean. Method: The research was conducted as a double-blind, randomized controlled experimental study with women who underwent cesarean surgery at Akdeniz University Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic between November 2021 and February 2022. Women who had a cesarean were assigned to intervention (n=35) and control (n=35) groups by simple randomization method. Women in the intervention and control groups continued to receive the standard care of the clinic in the postoperative period. The women in the intervention group were made to perform Paula Method Exercises by the researcher for 10-15 (time has changed due to individual characteristics of the patients) minutes on postoperative day 0, day 1 and day 2, in line with the training plan. Data were collected with the "Introductory Information Form", "Postoperative Monitoring Form" and "McGill Pain Scale Short Form". Results: It was determined that there was a significant increase in the number of bowel sounds after the intervention in the women in the intervention group. In the intervention group, the number of bowel sounds per minute was found to be 6.69±2.92 at 6-8 hours after cesarean, and 9.66±3.73 after Paula Method Exercise application. Feeling the first bowel sounds after cesarean was 7.74±3.09 hours in the intervention group and 9.31±6.06 hours in the control group. The time for the first burping after cesarean was 13.09±4.67 hours in women in the intervention group and 14.94±6.01 hours in women in the control group. The first defecation after cesarean was found to occur at 39.94±21.64 hours in the intervention group and at 49.03±29.36 hours in the control group. Postoperative distention pain level was found to be 3.34±2.69 in the intervention group and 2.94±2.75 in the control group. Conclusion: It was determined that applying Paula Method Exercises in the postoperative period after cesarean section was effective in increasing intestinal motility after cesarean. Key Words: abdominal pain, distension, nursing care, paula method exercise, cesarean section, post-cesarean gas.