title: Use of herbal drugs during pregnancy among 600 Norwegian women in relation to concurrent use of conventional drugs and pregnancy outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of herbal drugs by pregnant women in relation to concurrent use of conventional drugs, delivery, and pregnancy outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  600 women at Stavanger University Hospital Norway were interviewed using a structured questionnaire within five days after delivery. Medical birth charts were reviewed with respect to pregnancy outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all, 39.7% of the women reported having used herbal drugs during pregnancy, most commonly ginger, iron-rich herbs, echinacea and cranberry. Although 86.3% of the women reported having used conventional drugs during pregnancy there were few potential interactions between herbal drugs and conventional drugs. There was a significant association between the use of iron-rich herbs during pregnancy and high birthweight, and use of raspberry leaves and caesarean delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of herbal drugs is common during pregnancy and indicates a need for documentation about their safety in pregnancy.
authors: Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. h.m.e.nordeng@farmasi.uio.no
authors: Hedvig
authors: H
authors: Nordeng
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Bayne
authors: Gro Cecilie
authors: GC
authors: Havnen
authors: Berit Smestad
authors: BS
authors: Paulsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009664:Norway; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D019338:Polypharmacy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D019266:Iron, Dietary; D028321:Plant Preparations