The Effect of flaxseed on cervical ripening and delivery outcome in primiparous women: a randomized clinical trial

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Departments of Midwifery, Geriatric Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor of Health Psychology, Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.

3 Instructor, Department of Midwifery, Geriatric Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran.

Abstract

introduction: Chemical and herbal medicines are used to facilitate vaginal delivery and reduce cesarean section. Unripe cervix is associated with many complications. Since chemical drugs may be associated with maternal and fetal complications, the present study was performed with aim to determine the effect of flaxseed on cervical ripening and delivery outcome.
Methods: This randomized clinical trial study was conducted in 2018-2021 on 120 primiparous women referred to a midwifery office in Rafsanjan city. The samples were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. Then, 28 packets of 10 gr of flaxseed powder were provided to the intervention group, so that from the 37th week of pregnancy until delivery, they eat one packet in a glass of warm water every morning as fasting. The control group received no intervention. The study tool was a demographic and obstetric information questionnaire, and the two groups were compared in terms of cervical ripening and maternal and neonatal outcomes. Data analysis was done using SPSS software (version 22) and independent t and chi-square statistical tests. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: At admission time, the two groups had statistically significant differences in cervical ripening, and it was higher in the intervention group (p=0.01). Also, the first stage duration of labor was shorter in the intervention group (p=0.03). The two groups had no statistically significant difference in terms of other delivery outcomes, including admission cause, induction and strengthening of labor pains, the second stage duration, fetal distress, meconium passing, type of delivery, first and fifth minute Apgar scores, and postpartum hemorrhage (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The use of flaxseed increases the probability of cervical ripening and shortens the first stage and the course of childbirth.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. Cunningham FG, Leveno KJ, Dashe JS, Hoffman BL, Spong CY, Casey BM, et al. Williams Obstetrics. 26nd New York: McGraw-Hill Education; 2022.
  2. Ali-Akbari Sichani B, Darooneh T, Rashidi Fakari F, Moattar F, Nasiri M, Delpak-Yeganeh S, et al. Effect of crocus sativus (saffron) on cervical ripening and progress of labor in primiparous term women: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. International Journal of Pediatrics 2020; 8(9):12105-15.
  3. Naeiji Z, Naghshvarian N, Mirzamoradi M, Sotudeh S, Moridi A. Efficacy and safety of oral hyoscine used for outpatient cervical ripening among primiparous women with term pregnancy. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics 2020; 150(3):335-9.
  4. Levine LD. Cervical ripening: Why we do what we do. InSeminars in perinatology 2020; 44(2):151216.
  5. Talebi F, Malchi F, Abedi P, Jahanfar S. Effect of dill (Anethum Graveolens Linn) seed on the duration of labor: A systematic review. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 2020; 41:101251.
  6. Lee S, Cha DH, Park CW, Kim EH. Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes of Elective Induction of Labor at 39 or More Weeks: A Prospective, Observational Study. Diagnostics 2022; 13(1):38.
  7. Pierce S, Bakker R, Myers DA, Edwards RK. Clinical insights for cervical ripening and labor induction using prostaglandins. American Journal of Perinatology Reports 2018; 8(04):e307-14.
  8. Tabasi Z, Mesdaghinia E, Abedzadeh-Kalahroudi M, Sehat M, Panahandeh A. Comparing the effects of vaginal misoprostol, laminaria, and extra amniotic saline infusion on cervical ripening and induction of labor. Obstetrics & Gynecology Science 2020; 63(3):261.
  9. Hossain A, Rahman MJ. Safety, nutrition and functionality of the traditional foods. Traditional Foods: History, Preparation, Processing and Safety 2019: 219-38.
  10. Louik C, Gardiner P, Kelley K, Mitchell AA. Use of herbal treatments in pregnancy. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 2010; 202(5):439-e1.
  11. Adams J, Lui CW, Sibbritt D, Broom A, Wardle J, Homer C, et al. Women's use of complementary and alternative medicine during pregnancy: a critical review of the literature. Birth 2009; 36(3):237-45.
  12. Tork ZS, Dasumi S, Tansaz M, Akbarzadeh A. The effects ofpeganeum harmala smoke cervical ripening, initiation and outcome of labor. Medical History 2016; 8(27):151-177.
  13. Mohammadinia N, Rezaei MA, Loripour M, Heydari N. The effect of consumption of Sisymbrium-seeds at the end of pregnancy on the rate of cesarean delivery and apgar score. The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility 2012; 15(27):8-13.
  14. Hall HG, McKenna LG, Griffiths DL. Complementary and alternative medicine for induction of labour. Women and Birth 2012; 25(3):142-8.
  15. Smith CA, Collins CT, Cyna AM, Crowther CA. Complementary and alternative therapies for pain management in labour. Cochrane database of systematic reviews; 2006(4).
  16. Tournaire M, Theau-Yonneau A. Complementary and alternative approaches to pain relief during labor. Evidence‐based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2007; 4(4):409-17.
  17. Jorjani IH. Zakhireh Kharazmshahi. Tehran: the academy of medical sciences publication; 2008.
  18. Avicenna (Ibn-e-sina). (2005) Al-Qanoon Fi Al-Tibb. 1nd Beirut, Lebanon: Alaalami Beirut library Press; 2005.
  19. Razi M. Al-Hawi fi Al-Tibb. Beirut: Dar ehya al-toras al-arabi; 2001.
  20. Aghili Khorasani MH. Moalejat Aghili. Tehran: The Institute for Medical History Islamic and Complementary Medicine; 2009.
  21. Vazani Y, Kashanian M, Bioos S, Keshavarz M. The Iranian Traditional Medicine Point of View on Labor management. Journal of Islamic and Iranian Traditional Medicine 2015; 6(3):220-229.
  22. Wikipedia contributors. Flax: Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia: Avaleble at: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Flax&oldid=1229952314. Accessed July 22, 2024.
  23. Brooks JD, Ward WE, Lewis JE, Hilditch J, Nickell L, Wong E, et al. Supplementation with flaxseed alters estrogen metabolism in postmenopausal women to a greater extent than does supplementation with an equal amount of soy. The American journal of clinical nutrition 2004; 79(2):318-25.
  24. Jassim GA. Strategies for managing hot flashes. Journal of family Practice 2011; 60(6):333.
  25. Thacker HL. Assessing risks and benefits of nonhormonal treatments for vasomotor symptoms in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Journal of Women's Health 2011; 20(7):1007-16.
  26. Hakimi S, Mohammad Alizadeh S, Delazar A, Abbasalizadeh F, Bamdad Mogaddam R, Siiahi MR, et al. Probable effects of fenugreek seed on hot flash in menopausal women. Journal of Medicinal Plants 2006; 5(19):9-14.
  27. Shams R, Pandey VK, Dar AH, Tripathi A, Singh R. A descriptive review on nutraceutical constituents, detoxification methods and potential health benefits of flaxseed. Applied Food Research 2022; 2(2):100239.
  28. Chandra V, Mishra R, Singh R, Verma NK. A Review On Application And Benefits Of Flax Seed (Linum Usitatissimmum L.). International Journal of Medical and Pharmacentical research 2022; 3(2):15-22.
  29. Azhari S, Lotfalizadeh M, Pirdadeh Beiranvand S, Shakeri M. Study of the effect of castor oil on cervical ripening. Journal of Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences 1970; 14(2):83-8.
  30. Amerizadeh A, Farajzadegan Z, Asgary S. Effect and safety of castor oil on labor induction and prevalence of vaginal delivery: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research 2022; 27(4):251-9.
  31. Samavati R, Ducza E, Hajagos-Tóth J, Gaspar R. Herbal laxatives and antiemetics in pregnancy. Reproductive toxicology 2017; 72:153-8.
  32. Verma R, Prasad R, Gupta A. Functional properties and health benefits in flaxseed fiber and oil (linum usitatissimum L.). International Journal of Home Science 2017; 3(1):368-9.
  33. Shariat Moghani S, Jarrahi R, Moradi M, Rakhshande H, Jamali J, Esform E. Effect of oral rose-water on cervical ripening in primiparous women. The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility 2021; 24(1):67-76.
  34. Rahimi G, Pourfarzi F, Fouladi N, Chamheidar N, Shahbazzadegan S. Comparison of the Effect of Vaginal Isosorbide Mononitrate and Estradiol on Cervical Ripening in Term Pregnancy: A controlled clinical trial. The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility 2018; 21(7):1-9.
  35. Tromans PM, Beazley J, Shenouda PI. Comparative study of oestradiol and prostaglandin E2 vaginal gel for ripening the unfavourable cervix before induction of labour. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1981; 282(6265):679-81.
  36. Kalati M, Kashanian M, Jahdi F, Naseri M, Haghani H, Sheikhansari N. Evening primrose oil and labour, is it effective? A randomised clinical trial. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2018; 38(4):488-92.
The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility
Volume 27, Issue 3
May 2024
Pages 1-9

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics