Volume 5, Issue 1, March 2015, Pages 26–29
Original Research Article
Evaluating the effects of Dill (Anethum graveolens) seed on the duration of active phase and intensity of labour pain
Abstract
Introduction
Pregnant
women in traditional cultures often use herbal medicines to facilitate
childbirth and reduce labour pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate
the effects of Dill seed on duration of the active phase and intensity
of labour pain in parturient women.
Materials and methods
This
retrospective cohort study evaluated the effects of Dill seed on
duration of active phase and intensity of labour pain in 85 parturient
women who consumed a tea made from Dill seed (case group) and 85
parturient women who consumed no medicines during labour (control
group). Data collection instruments were a questionnaire, data recording
sheet, Sonny Kidd and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). All statistical
analyses were performed by SPSS 16.
Results
The
results showed that in the first stage of labour pain the average
duration of active phase in the case group was 4.21 ± 2.6 h compared
with 6.01 ± 3.4 h in the control group (p = 0.001). The comparison of pain intensity in the two groups was not statistically significant (p > 0.05), but progress of labour in the case group was more than the control group (p = 0.001).
Conclusion
This
study showed that a tea made from Dill seed can be used in the initial
stages of labour without any side effects on mother and foetus to reduce
labour pain.
Keywords
- Anethum graveolens;
- Active phase;
- Intensity;
- Labour pain;
- Dill seed
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