03.01.10
Roughly 10% of pregnant women use some form of herbal product, according to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The prevalence of reported herbal use three months before or during pregnancy was about 11%. During pregnancy, prevalence was around 9% and was highest in the first trimester. Researchers estimated the prevalence and patterns of herbal use among U.S. women before and during pregnancy based on data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study—an ongoing, population-based, case-control study. Analysis included 4239 women from 10 centers in the U.S. who delivered infants without major birth defects from 1998–2004. Higher prevalence was associated with age greater than 30 years and education more than 12 years. Use varied considerably by state (5–17%). Ginger and ephedra were the most commonly reported products taken early in pregnancy; teas and chamomile were most commonly reported throughout pregnancy.