Edible Medicinal Plants on Facilitating Childbirth: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Despite advances and the availability of newer drugs to facilitate childbirth, the interest in using natural treatments is on the rise. More than 20 percent of pregnancies require induction of labor, which is associated with side effects and increased risk of cesarean surgery. For this reason, the use of medicinal plants is considered healthier. OBJECTIVE: The present study is a systematic review of the role of oral herbs in facilitating childbirth. METHOD: This review was conducted via searching the Medline/PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and SID databases. The review began systematically and with no time constraints. It lasted until December 29, 2020. RESULTS: Twenty clinical trials investigated the impact of edible plants on increasing cervical readiness, stimulating labor onset, reducing pain intensity, and shortening the duration of labor. Five studies have revealed the positive impact of saffron. Two studies reported the same effect by chamomile. Three studies showed the positive impact of boiled dill seeds, and two studies showed the impact of date and date syrup. Another study reported the impact of Descurainia Sophia, and six studies also showed the positive effect of castor oil on uterine stimulation, strengthening and relieving labor pains, which eventually lead to facilitating labor. One study also showed no improvement in bishop score after consumption of primrose capsules. CONCLUSION: The positive effect of edible medicinal plants on facilitating childbirth has been shown in the mentioned studies. However, more studies with a larger sample size are needed, and there is also a need for a more detailed study of the possible mechanisms of plant effects.

Comparison of hyperbilirubinemia incidence between the newborns of zinc-taking and non-zinc-taking mothers during the third trimester of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Identification and control of the risk factors for hyperbilirubinemia can reduce the incidence and complications of this condition. Serum zinc level in newborns is reported to be one of the factors affecting the severity and incidence of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Therefore, the present study was conducted to compare hyperbilirubinemia incidence in neonates of zinc-taking and non-zinc-taking mothers. METHODS: In this observational study, we compared the incidence of hyperbilirubinemia during the first week of birth between newborns whose mothers had received zinc supplement during the third trimester of pregnancy (case group) with those whose mothers had not taken zinc supplement (control group). The checklist of newborns' conditions in both case and control groups was completed based on the obtained data regarding the infants, mothers, and laboratory findings. Data was analyzed using chi-squared test and t-test. RESULTS: The mean serum levels of zinc were 79.76±15 mg/dl and 70.93±15.67mg/dl in mothers who had received zinc during the third trimester and those who had not taken zinc supplement, respectively. The mean serum level of zinc in newborns who underwent phototherapy was 41.68±9.21 mg/dl, while it was 68.53±20.85 mg/dl in neonates who did not receive phototherapy. In addition, 36% of the neonates whose mothers had not received zinc required phototherapy, while only 11% of newborns whose mothers had taken zinc supplement received phototherapy. CONCLUSION: Zinc consumption during the third trimester of pregnancy increased the serum zinc level in both newborns and mothers and reduced the incidence and severity of idiopathic hyperbilirubinemia requiring treatment.

Comparison of Pain Score and Complications Following Acetaminophen and Pethidine Injection During Vaginal Delivery: A Double-blind Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Recently, intravenous acetaminophen has been introduced as an intervention with analgesic potential similar to that of opioid analgesics in labor pain management. This study aimed to compare the pain score and maternal and neonatal complications following acetaminophen and pethidine injections during vaginal delivery. METHODS: This randomized, double-blind clinical trial was conducted on pregnant women during the first stage of delivery referred to Ghaem and Omolbanin Hospitals in Mashhad, Iran, from March to December 2017. The subjects were assigned randomly to one of two groups: acetaminophen and pethidine. The pain intensity was measured before and 15, 60, 120, 180, and 240 minutes after injection. RESULTS: The pain score and pain score changes showed no significant difference between the two groups at different times. The incidence of maternal complications during delivery and the first hour after delivery was not statistically significant between the two groups, but 15 minutes after injection, vomiting (p = 0.001), nausea (p = 0.001), and dizziness (p = 0.001) were significantly higher in the pethidine group. The mean one and five minutes Apgar scores were significantly higher in the acetaminophen group. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous acetaminophen led to fewer maternal complications than pethidine, especially during the first 15 minutes after injection and fewer neonatal complications, especially in the Apgar score.

Comparison of birth weights of neonates of mothers receiving vs. not receiving zinc supplement at pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Zinc is an essential element for normal embryogenesis and embryonic and neonatal development. Therefore, we compared the birth weights of neonates born to mothers who consumed zinc supplement during pregnancy with that of neonates born to mothers who did not. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, we divided 200 pregnant mothers into two groups: case group (mothers receiving zinc supplement during pregnancy) and control group (mothers not receiving zinc supplement during pregnancy) Then, the neonate's cord zinc level and mother's serum level were measured and neonate's growth charts (weight, height and head circumference)were completed. RESULTS: In this study, both groups of mothers were observed to have zinc deficiency; 35% of the mothers who consumed zinc supplements and 81% of the mothers who did not consume zinc supplements (P < 0.001). Based on the results, maternal serum of zinc (P < 0.001), neonatal birth weight (P = 0.008), maternal age (P < 0.001) and parity (P < 0.01) in zinc-supplemented group were higher. Neonatal birth weight was associated moderately with mother's zinc serum levels and poorly with neonatal serum zinc levels. CONCLUSION: Zinc consumption during pregnancy increases serum zinc level of mother and neonatal weight. Neonatal weight has a higher correlation to maternal serum zinc level.

The relationship of the psychological coping and adjustment strategies of infertile women with the success of assisted reproductive technology.

BACKGROUND: The success of assisted reproductive techniques plays a very important role in the quality of life of infertile couples and decreases the negative behavior states of infertility. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at determining the relationship between psychological coping and adjustment strategies with the success of assisted reproductive technology (ART). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This correlational study was conducted on 204 women visiting Milad Infertility Center in Mashhad during 2015-2016. The research instruments included Fertility Adjustment Scale and Infertility Coping Strategies Scale. The positive result of two pregnancy tests within 48 hours was considered as the success of ART. RESULTS: The mean and standard division score of adjustment in the group achieved treatment success (34.3 ± 8.2) exceeded the group failed (33.6 ± 8.8), the difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.381). Also, there was no significant difference between groups in the median and interquartile range of total coping strategies 81 (13) vs. 79.5 (12.25), (p= 0.369). Based on the logistic regression model for one increased transferred embryo, the chance of getting pregnant is 1.3 times, and for each unit increase in FSH level, the chance of ART success decreases 18%. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that there is no relationship between psychological coping and adjustment strategies with ART success. However, the number of transferred fetus and tirthday FSH are introduced as factors that are related to the success of ART.

Neglected Pessary in Patient With Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Case Report.

Objective: To report the neglected pessary in a patient with pelvic organ prolapse. Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is one of the most important medical challenges in women especially elderly. One of the conservative treatments of symptomatic POP is pessary placement. Case report: A 84-year-old woman, para 10 was referred to female pelvic floor clinic of an academic hospital for vaginal bleeding and neglected vaginal pessary. Vaginal examination in the pelvic floor clinic revealed an entrapped ring pessary in severely atrophic vaginal mucosa with purulent discharge. Conclusion: Although pessary is the first choice and one of the best conservative treatment for pelvic organ prolapse, it shouldn't be used for poor cooperative patient who cannot comply with regular follow-up visits which may cause harmful complications.

First trimesters Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A levels value to Predict Gestational diabetes Mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature.

Detecting pregnant women at risk of diabetes in first months can help them by early intervention for delaying or preventing onset of GDM. In this study, we aimed to assess the Predictive value of first trimester Pregnancy related plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) levels for detecting Gestational diabetes Mellitus (GDM). This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted through probing in databases. PubMed, Scopus, Medline and Google scholar citations were searched to find the published papers from 1974 to 2017. Studies were considered eligible if they were cohorts, case-control studies, reported GDM result, not other types, conducted on singleton pregnancy, measured Serum pregnancy associated plasma protein A in the first trimester and evaluated the relation of first trimester pregnancy associated plasma protein-A and GDM. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality with Newcastle-Ottawa and extracted data in the Pre-defined checklist. Analysis of the data was carried out by "Comprehensive Meta-analysis Version 2 (CAM)" and Metadisc software. 17 articles have our inclusion criteria and were considered in our systematic review, 5 studies included in Meta-analysis. Meta-analysis of these articles showed that the predictive value of PAPP-A for GDM has 55% sensitivity (53-58), 90% (89-90) specificity, LR + 2.48 (0.83-7.36) and LR - 0.70 (0.45-1.09) with 95% confidence intervals. In our study PAPP-A has low predictive accuracy overall, but it may be useful when combined with other tests, and this is an active part for future research. One limitation of our study is significant heterogeneity because of different adjusted variables and varied diagnostic criteria.

Relationship between behavioral indices of pain during labor pain with pain intensity and duration of delivery.

BACKGROUND: Certain behaviors can be adopted by women to cope with labor pain according to their individual characteristics, which are currently called behavioral indicators during labor pain, and include facial expressions, verbal expressions, tone of voice, body movements, degree of relaxation, and respiratory system functioning during delivery. Moreover, severity of pain and duration of labor can vary due to several factors including individual characteristics. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to determine the relationship between behavioral indicators during labor pain, severity of pain, and delivery duration. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 120 low risk pregnant women who referred to Omolbanin (AS) Hospital in the city of Mashhad (Iran) for delivery in 2014, were selected via convenience sampling method, which was then followed by completion of demographic information forms. From cervical dilatation of 3-5 centimeters until delivery, the Labor Pain Coping Behavior Observation Form (comprised of 6 sub-groups of facial expressions, verbal expressions, tone of voice, body movements, degree of relaxation, and respiratory function and severity and duration of pain) was completed during uterine contractions and every half an hour. Using the Inventory of Labor Information; vital signs, frequency of contractions, and duration of the first and second stages of labor were measured. Furthermore, the content validity of the questionnaire was determined and its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha method. Then, the data were analyzed using the SPSS version 16, through Pearson Product-Moment Correlation and Spearman's Rank-Order Correlation, Kruskal-Wallis test, and ANOVA. RESULTS: According to the results, 16.2% of the individuals had undesirable behavioral indicators during labor pain, 50% of them were endowed with acceptable behaviors, and 33.8% of these women had desirable behaviors. The findings also revealed that the duration of the active phase of the first stage of labor (p<0.001 and r=-0.453), the duration of the second stage of labor (p<0.012 and r=-0.146), and the severity of pain (p<0.001 and r=-0.450) were significantly and inversely correlated with behavioral indicators during labor pain; i.e. an increase in the mean score of behavioral indicators during labor pain could lead to a decline in the duration of stages of labor and severity of pain. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that behaviors demonstrated by women in labor had effects on their pains in the course of delivery, and there was also a relationship between the duration of stages of labor and its severity of pain. Therefore, it was recommended to turn attention to behaviors by women in labor in order to achieve a desirable clinical management.

A Case of Cushing's Syndrome in Pregnancy.

Cushing's syndrome (CS) occurs rarely during pregnancy. CS can be caused by prolonged abnormal exposure to excess glucocorticoids leading to special and significant signs and symptoms. It is often difficult to diagnose pathological hypercortisolism in pregnant women since some symptoms of the disease might be due to a complicated pregnancy, including preeclampsia or gestational diabetes. In this study, we report the case of a 29-year-old female who referred to our institution with hypertension, weakness, steria, and truncal obesity. Physical examination revealed cushingoid characteristic. She was also found to be 27 weeks pregnant. CS was diagnosed on the basis of abnormal serum cortisol and adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) levels, as well as radiologic findings. She eventually gave birth to a preterm infant via vaginal delivery. A right adrenal adenoma was diagnosed and was subsequently treated with surgical resection. The patient's condition remained stable after the surgery.

Renal artery aneurysm rupture during post-partum period: A case report.

Renal artery aneurysm has an incidence of lower than one in 1000 of the general population. The risk of aneurysm rupture increases during pregnancy due to hormonal and hemodynamic changes. Therefore, these patients often refer to physicians with abdominal pain that is followed by shock. We report the case of a 41-year-old multiparous woman who was referred with symptoms of epigastric pain and hemorrhagic shock, a week after her vaginal delivery. She was diagnosed with renal artery aneurysm in ultrasonography. The patient underwent laparotomy and nephrectomy so that she was discharged from hospital with a good general health condition. Imaging measures in a timely manner, carried out by qualified individuals considering a patient's history and clinical situation is very effective in diagnosis and treatment of post-partum abdominal pain.