Context: The concept of early initiation of oral feeding after caesarean section is well tolerated by patients, yet not practiced in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex. An effective postoperative dietary management has been described to significantly decrease the stress response and improve the ileus. Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of early oral feeding after caesarean delivery. Study Design and Setting: A randomized controlled trial that was carried out at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex. Main Outcome Measures: Rate of ileus symptoms, post operative time interval to presence of bowel sounds, passage of flatus and bowel movement, time interval to return to regular diet, length of hospital stay, postoperative complications, acceptability and benefit of early oral feeding. Subjects: Two hundred women admitted into postnatal ward after emergency or elective caesarean section for various indications and who satisfied the eligible criteria and consented were randomly assigned to two groups, i.e. early feeding or routine feeding group. Women in the early feeding group were encouraged to take sips of water six to eight hours post-operatively, followed by oral tea at least 100 millilitres at a time within 8 to 12 hours postoperatively under supervision. Women in the routine feeding group were managed by restricting oral intake for the first 24 hours and administration of sips of water 24-48 hours postoperatively.