The effect of consumption of the date fruit on the amount and duration of the postpartum bleeding

Introduction: Due to emphasis in reproductive health on maintaining women’s health, who undergo physiological changes during and after pregnancy, and the importance of maintaining hemoglobin and iron stores to keep mothers healthy, particularly during puerperium, and presence of studies that indicate the efficacy of the date fruit on reduction of hemorrhage in the third stage of labor , this study aimed to determine the effect of consumption of the date fruit on the amount and duration of postpartum bleeding. Method:This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 100 nulliparous 18–35 year-old women in Omolbanin Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, in 2015. In the intervention group, the mother was for 10 days given dates (100 gr/day), starting 2 hr after delivery. Data were collected using demographic questionnaires, postpartum follow-up checklist, and pictorial blood loss assessment chart (PBLAC). Data analysis was performed using SPSS)ver .23), t-test, and Mann-Whitney test. PResults:The study results indicated that the amount of bleeding was lower in the intervention group in the first day, but was not statistically significant, however in the other days (2 to 10) there was statistically significant difference in the amount of bleeding between the two groups (P<0.001); date fruit consumption was not effective in reducing the number of bleeding days. Conclusion: Postpartum consumption of the date fruit reduces the amount of bleeding, and since its postpartum consumption is not banned, new mothers are advised to consume it during this period