The Effect of Date Fruit Consumption on Early Postpartum Hemorrhage: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Postpartum hemorrhage, anemia and iron deficiency are important health problems. Using safe, cheap, and available methods to reduce the amount of hemorrhage after childbirth can be effective for the mother's health during this period. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of the date fruit consumption on the amount of hemorrhage after natural childbirth. Methods This was a randomized clinical trial that was conducted on 98 women who were referred to the maternity ward of Al-Zahra Hospital in Rasht using the available sampling method. The data collection tool included a questionnaire on personal characteristics and fertility and the Pictorial Blood loss Assessment Chart (PBLAC). Two hours after delivery, 100-gram of date fruits was given to the intervention group and the amount of hemorrhage was recorded during the first 24 hours. Data analysis was performed using independent t-tests, Chi-square, Fisher, Shapiro-Wilk, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, and Mann-Whitney tests. A P  < 0.05 was considered significant. Results The mean hemorrhage rate after normal delivery in the two date and control groups was 33.7 ± 16.7 and 50.9 ± 33.3, respectively. The amount of postpartum hemorrhage in the date group was significantly lower than in the control group (P = 0.009). Conclusion Consumption of dates is effective in reducing the amount of hemorrhage after natural childbirth; thus, it is recommended to consume this fruit during the postpartum period. Also to confirm the findings, it is recommended to conduct similar studies in this field. Trial registration: This trial was registered with the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials; https://www.irct.ir/trial/59197 (IRCT20210607051505N2) on 31/10/2021.