Norwegian researchers interviewed 400 postpartum women about the use of herbal drugs, within 3 days of giving birth, using a structured questionnaire. They found that 36% of the pregnant women had used herbal drugs during pregnancy with an average of 1.7 products per woman. The proportion of women using herbal drugs increased throughout the first, second and third pregnancy trimester. The most commonly used herbs were Echinacea, iron-rich herbs, ginger (not specified), Matricaria recutita and Vaccinium macrocapon. Among the women having used herbal drugs in pregnancy, 39% had used herbal drugs that were considered possibly harmful or herbs where information about safety in pregnancy was missing. Herbal galactagogues had been used by 43% of the women who breastfed. Use of herbal drugs in pregnancy had most commonly been recommended by family or friends.