The effect of late pregnancy date fruit consumption on delivery progress - A meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: To summarize the available evidence exploring the influence of date fruit consumption on delivery outcomes.

Methods: A search was conducted for relevant articles in three databases for manuscripts in English, with no time restrictions.

Results: Four articles were eligible for inclusion. Women consuming date fruit were admitted with higher cervical dilatation (mean difference (MD) 1.1 cm [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.2-1.99 cm) and yielded a lower need for labor induction/augmentation (relative risk (RR) 0.6, 95% CI 0.43-0.83). Date fruit consumption was associated with shorter latent phase (MD -4.6 hours, 95% CI -7.77 to -1.4) and second stage duration (MD -7.7 minutes, 95% CI -12.0 to -3.4).

Conclusions: Although the overall quality of the included studies was weak due to high risk of bias, the results of our meta-analysis point to beneficial effects of date fruit consumption on labor process. fruit.

Keywords: Date fruit; Herbal medicine; Induction of labor; Labor stages; Obstetrics.