"Natural" relief of pregnancy-related symptoms and neonatal outcomes: above all do no harm.
BACKGROUND
In the South of Italy the use of herbal remedies to alleviate pregnancy-related symptoms is very common.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the proportion, prevalence of use, attitude and knowledge base in a sample of Italian pregnant women in the South of Italy. To explore the possible influence and risks of herbal consumption on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes.


METHODS
A retrospective observational study was conducted during the study period November 2010-September 2013. Six hundred and thirty expectant mothers were interviewed within three days after childbirth in a public Hospital in the South of Italy.


RESULTS
Due to a lack of data, a total of six hundred interviews were considered. Four hundred and eighty six women (81%) reported to have constantly used at least one herbal product throughout the pregnancy period. The study enrolled mostly women between 31 and 40 years of age, with a middle-high level of education, married and employed. The most commonly used herbal products, taken by oral route and for the entire period of pregnancy, were chamomile, fennel, propolis, cranberry, lemon balm, ginger, valerian and mallow. The most relevant source of information for the majority of participants was the doctor (95%), and most of the women (72%) informed their doctors about their use of herbal remedies.


CONCLUSIONS
The regular chamomile consumption resulted in a higher risk of pre-term delivery, lower birth weight and lower length of the newborn. Also a regular use of fennel resulted in a shorter gestational age. Finally, ginger intake resulted in a shorter gestational age and in a smaller circumference of the newborn's skull.
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia 71100, Italy. Electronic address: luigia.trabace@unifg.it.
Luigia
L
Trabace
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia 71100, Italy.
Paolo
P
Tucci
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia 71100, Italy.
Lucia
L
Ciuffreda
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia 71100, Italy.
Maria
M
Matteo
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia 71100, Italy.
Francesca
F
Fortunato
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy.
Patrizia
P
Campolongo
Department of Science, Section of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University 'Roma Tre', Rome 00146, Italy.
Viviana
V
Trezza
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza, University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy.
Vincenzo
V
Cuomo
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D020843:Chamomile / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D030001:Foeniculum / Q000009:adverse effects; D020939:Zingiber officinale / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000139:chemically induced; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D028321:Plant Preparations
Chamomile; Fennel; Ginger; Herbal remedies; Risks of herbal consumption