Can Dill Seed Shorten Labour?

2021-02-03 08:49:58

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effects of dill seed (Anethum Graveolens Linn) on the length of labour. Participants were required to be 18-35 years old at gestational age 37–42 week, singleton pregnancy with cephalic presentation, estimated fetus weight of 2500-4000 gr, primiparous, and normal BMI. The search strategy was conducted on Cochrane Library, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science using terms: Dill (Anethum graveolens Linn.), childbirth, uterine contractions and duration of labour. This yielded 4 eligible studies, 2 RCTs and 2 cohort studies, with a total of 691 participants. In the RCTs, compared to routine care, dill seed was found to significantly reduce the first stage (MD = -43.66 minutes, 95% [-52.99, -34.33]), second stage (MD = -15.76 min, 95% CI [-20.06, -11.47]), and third stage of labour (MD = -1.79 min, 95% CI [2.62, -0.95]). The cohort studies showed a similar significant reduction in the first and second stages of labour. The authors suggest that dill can be used in low-risk pregnant women to reduce the duration of labour.