Discussion
human milk volume and preterm infant weight, milk, premature infants gain, tube-fed
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Pimpinella Anisum herbal tea on human milk volume and preterm infant weight in human populations for the first time. We observed significant differences in milk volume between the three groups. On the first, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh days, the mean volume of pumped milk in the intervention group was significantly higher than the placebo and control groups. The within-group comparison of intervention, placebo, and control groups showed a statistically significant difference between the mean of milk volume before and end of the intervention in each group. These findings in relation to human milk production are congruent with those reported by Hosseinzadeh and colleagues in relation to mice [Anise causes milk production in animals by stimulating the hormone lactogen (prolactin) [No side effects were reported by participants in our study. Other studies confirming the quasi-estrogenic (phytoestrogenic) effects of Anise have similarly noted an absence of side effects in humans. For example, in reducing the frequency and severity of hot flashes post menopause [There was no statistically significant difference observed in terms of preterm infant weight on days 0, 3 and 7 between the intervention, placebo and control groups. The within-group comparison showed a statistically significant difference between the mean of preterm infant weight before and end of the intervention in each group. This contrasts with the findings of Hosseinzadeh et al. (2014), which demonstrated a significant increase in the weight of mice (pups) when compared to control groups [All infants participating in the present study were born preterm and were fed through a tube, and only 8.7% of birthing parents participating had a university education. This is important to note as premature infants gain weight more slowly than term infants, and preterm infants along with tube-fed infants, cup-fed infants, and infants with birthing parents having low levels of literacy can weigh even less overall [