Can eating Dates During Pregnancy really help with labor?
Yes! There was a study conducted by The Jordan University of Science and Technology on late pregnancy consumption of dates. They found some interesting/positive results in the group of women who consumed dates compared to those who did not:
- women who ate dates were dilated more when admitted (roughly 3.5cm compared to 2-ishcm)
- women who ate dates had more instances of intact membranes (their water hadn’t broken before labor. 83% versus 60% for the non-date eaters)
- spontaneous labor (the natural start of labor versus induction) occurred in 96% of the women who ate dates (versus 74% in the group of women who did not)
- women who ate dates were less likely to have pitocin (28% versus 47%)
- the length of the first stage of labor was shorter in the women who ate dates (mean time of 510 mins) than those women who had not eaten dates (mean time of 906 minutes)
The study says the women ate approximately 3-7 dates in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy.
Another study, discussed here, mentions that eating dates in late pregnancy causes an “Increase in the level of prostaglandins in pregnant women causes uterine contractions during the term. Therefore, dates can be helpful in storing energy and strengthen uterine muscles. Dates play a part in prevention of postpartum hemorrhage, spontaneous labor, and speeding up the delivery progress.” They also concluded in that same discussion that eating dates in the later weeks of pregnancy did indeed have a significant impact on the shorter length of labor compared to the control group.
Go ahead and buy that bulk sized container of dates at Costco, whip up something yummy to eat with your date or alone, and enjoy!
*some of our favorite date recipes:
paleo energy balls
chocolate coconut date balls
banana date smoothie
bacon wrapped dates
moroccan stuffed dates
or just eat them plain!
Did you eat Dates During Pregnancy? Did you find they helped? Share below!
