The Effect of Oral Honey- Date Syrup Intake during Labor on Labor Progress of Nulliparous Women

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Lecturer, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

2 M.Sc. in Midwifery, Emam Sajad Hospital, Shahriyar, Tehran, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor of Biochemistry & Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

4 Associate Professor of Biostatics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

5 Gynecologist, Emam Sajad Hospital, Shahriyar, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction:Poor progress of labor is the most common leading cause of cesarean section. Oral intake during labor is one of the strategies to prevent dystocia among low-risk nulliparous women. To date, little is known about the influence of oral intake on labor progress and the most appropriate foodstuff during labor. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of oral honey date syrup during on labor progress in nulliparous women.
 
Methods: In a double-blind randomized clinical trial, 90 low-risk nulliparous women aged 18-35, between 37-42 week gestation, singleton fetus, vertex presentation and spontaneous beginning of uterine contractions were enrolled at Sajad hospital in Shahriyar Tehran in 2007 .They were randomized to the intervention, placebo or usual care groups. At labor, after a cervical dilatation of 4 cm to delivery, women in the intervention and placebo groups received honey-date syrup and placebo; respectively. The women in the usual care group were restricted to small quantities of water as desired. Labor progress was compared among the groups using ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis and Chi-Square tests.
 
Results: Normal labor progression rate was higher among honey-date group than two other groups (96.7% vs. 66.7% in placebo and 60.0% in usual care group p<0.002). Labor duration was also shorter in the group taking honey date syrup than two other groups (351.0 minutes vs. 484.2 in placebo and 475.7 in usual care groups, p<0.001).
 
Conclusion: In our study oral honey-date syrup induced high rate of normal labor progress. It may be used during labor to prevent prolonged labors but more research is warranted to clarify these associations.

Keywords

References

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