I’ve recently researched the effectiveness of eating dates during pregnancy for positive labour outcomes. There has been so much talk in recent years on the benefits of eating dates and finally we have evidence to suggest that dates have a great impact on the body’s preparation for labour.
The guidelines from one study found that eating 6-8 dates per day during the last 4 weeks of pregnancy (from 36 weeks onwards) resulted in:
Significantly higher mean cervical dilatation upon admission compared with the non-date fruit consumers (3.52 cm vs 2.02 cm)
Significantly higher proportion of intact membranes (83% vs 60%)
Spontaneous labour occurred in 96% of those who consumed dates, compared with 79% women in the non-date fruit consumers.
Use of prostin/oxytocin was significantly lower in women who consumed dates (28%), compared with the non-date fruit consumers (47%)
The mean latent phase of the first stage of labour was shorter in women who consumed date fruit compared with the non-date fruit consumers (510 min vs 906 min)
A direct quote from the study results:
It is concluded that the consumption of date fruit in the last 4 weeks before labour significantly reduced the need for induction and augmentation of labour, and produced a more favourable, but non-significant, delivery outcome.
Further randomised controlled studies have taken place - groups eating dates from 36 weeks showed significantly less need for induction of labour using prostin or synthetic oxytocin! Even better, one study proved that women who ate dates during labour gave birth to babies with a higher APGAR score at 5 minutes post birth!
I’m really keen to hear from you if you ate dates during your pregnancy - did you think it helped? Do any of the descriptors above fit with how your labour went? I personally had a 12 minute 2nd stage of labour with my first baby (I did eat dates from 34 weeks!) but there are so many variables when studying labour duration, plus this is only anecdotal evidence!
Regardless, dates are safe and delicious to consume! Think of it as a dose of sticky toffee pudding a day during your final weeks of pregnancy, with potential benefits on the side!