Use of herbal supplements by pregnant women
Researchers at the University of Oslo, in Norway, studied the use of herbal supplements by pregnant Norwegian women.
First, the details.
- 600 women were interviewed within 5 days after delivery.
- Medical birth charts were reviewed with respect to pregnancy outcome.
And, the results.
- 40% of the women reported having used herbal drugs during pregnancy.
- Most commonly…
- Ginger
- Iron-rich herbs
- Echinacea
- Cranberry
- 86% of the women reported having used conventional drugs during pregnancy.
- There were few potential interactions between herbals and conventional drugs.
- There was a significant association between the following:
- Use of iron-rich herbs during pregnancy and high birth weight
- Use of raspberry leaves and caesarean delivery
The bottom line?
It’s a common practice to take herbals during pregnancy.
There also appears to be a connection between the use of certain supplements and pregnancy outcomes. This supports the importance for healthcare providers to monitoring the use of supplements by their pregnant patients.
7/25/11 19:19 JR