All pregnant women want to give birth to their baby smoothly. As a result, not a few pregnant women are doing various ways to make it happen, including eating Fatimah grass. He said, this herbaceous plant can launch labor. Is that right?
Fatimah Grass or Pumila Labisia is a herbaceous plant that is quite often used as medicine in several Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia and Malaysia.
Various studies show that this plant contains substances that resemble the hormone estrogen (phytoestrogens) as well as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, so it is considered to be able to treat various diseases.
Traditionally, Fatimah grass is often consumed by some women to increase libido, relieve postmenopausal symptoms, and relieve pain during menstruation. Not only that, this herbal plant is also predicted to be able to launch the birth process.
Facts about the Benefits of Fatimah Grass for Smooth Labor
Many people believe that Fatimah grass is beneficial for maintaining fetal health and is good for smooth delivery. To get these benefits, this plant is usually consumed as herbal medicine or herbal tea.
Actually, the assumption that Fatimah grass can launch labor is a wrong thing and must be straightened out.
Fatimah grass can stimulate the activity of the hormone oxytocin, which is a hormone produced by a woman's body when she is about to give birth. This hormone can cause contractions and speed up the labor process.
If consumed before the due date, Fatimah grass can increase the risk of premature labor or even miscarriage. Fatimah grass is also said to increase the risk of congenital diseases or defects in the fetus.
Therefore, pregnant women should not consume medicines and herbal products, including Fatimah grass, without consulting a doctor first, OK?
A series of dangers of Fatimah grass for pregnant women
Although it is claimed to be used as a natural medicine for labor induction, in fact the level of oxytocin in Fatimah grass is not clear and can actually be dangerous for pregnancy and childbirth.
If consumed in excess or too often, Fatimah grass can cause various dangers to the mother and fetus, such as:
1. Increase the risk of miscarriage
Fatimah grass can trigger contractions. If consumed before the due date of birth or at a very early gestational age, this herb can increase the risk of miscarriage. Consumption of Fatimah grass can also increase the risk of fetal death in the womb (stillbirth).
2. Causes premature labor and deformed fetus
In addition to increasing the risk of miscarriage, Fatimah grass consumption can cause premature labor. Because this plant stimulates the hormone oxytocin, labor can occur faster before the due date (HPL) arrives.
Because they are born too soon before their due time, premature babies can have various health problems or complications, ranging from impaired organ function, more risk of infection, difficulty breastfeeding, to sudden death (SIDS).
3. Causes poisoning to the fetus
Not only dangerous for pregnant women, the consumption of medicines and herbal products, including Fatimah grass, can also have an impact on the fetus. This is because drugs or herbal products may contain toxic substances that can harm the fetus and make it suffer from congenital diseases or birth defects.
Fatimah grass may be used to treat health problems in women who are not pregnant, for example to relieve symptoms of menopause or premenstrual syndrome.
On the other hand, this plant is not recommended for consumption by pregnant and lactating women. This is because there are no studies that prove that Fatimah grass is safe for consumption and beneficial for pregnancy and childbirth and breastfeeding.
After knowing the information above, pregnant women should avoid consuming Fatimah grass or other herbal plants. To ensure safety, remember to consult a doctor before using any medicine or herbal product.
If pregnant women want to give birth smoothly, there are several ways that can be taken without having to consume Fatimah grass or other herbal plants, namely regular exercise, avoiding stress, eating nutritious food, and doing perineal massage. Pregnant women can also try to have sex before the expected time of birth to launch labor.
If pregnant women are still curious or have already consumed Fatimah grass and are worried about the condition of the fetus in the womb, try to consult a doctor.