Dates are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. But how does having dates in pregnancy benefit labor? Do dates help with labor? Let’s talk more about dates benefits and dates for labor!
What Are Dates?
Dates are a type of fruit that grows on date palms; a type of tree. They commonly grow in northern Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and other parts of the world with warm climates.
There are over 600 kinds of dates and the chemical and nutritional composition can differ depending on where the dates were grown.
Dates are categorized as soft (i.e. Medjool), semi-soft (i.e. Deglet Nour), and dry (i.e. Thoory).
There are also different stages of ripeness based on Arabic practice. These three stages of ripeness are:
- Khalal (fresh, hard ripe, color stage)
- Rutab (crisp to succulent or ripe stage)
- Tamar (soft pliable, fully ripe stage)
Rutab and Tama are when the dates are ripe, soft, and sweet.
And just as a side note, the following studies I’ll be sharing with you about dates for labor don’t provide in detail which dates were consumed or at which stage of ripeness they were.
Dates Benefits
Whether you’re pregnant for the first time or you’ve given birth before, we all desire smooth and efficient birthing experiences. One tasty practice that I recommend is eating dates.
Researchers found that women who ate about 2.5 oz (4-6 dates) daily starting at 36-37 weeks were: [1, 2]
- 74% more dilated than non-date eaters
- 38% more likely to have their amniotic sac still intact, meaning your water doesn’t break. The longer your amniotic sac is intact, the longer you have this cushioning effect making contractions a bit less uncomfortable!
- 21% more likely to go into labor spontaneously, meaning without any induction methods
- 55% less likely to use Pitocin to induce or augment labor
- 68% more likely to have a successful labor induction if needed
- Less likely to have a cesarean
- 77% shorter first stage of labor
- Reduced duration of active labor
Eating dates has been found to increase estrogen levels in the body which helps prepare your body for labor and birth.
Overall, eating dates really helps to dilate, thin, and soften the cervix which is the opening to your uterus that your baby will pass through before moving through the vagina and being born!
Does Having Dates in Pregnancy Reduce Labor Pain?
Because of their effect on prostaglandins (a hormone-like substance responsible for pain and inflammation), it is speculated that consuming dates at the end of pregnancy or during labor may decrease labor pain [3].
In one randomized controlled trial women reported less pain intensity during labor when given date syrup (dates mixed with water) than the group that only received water [4].
Of course, pain is subjective so there weren’t any exact measurements to measure and compare for a study like this.
But, in animal studies, there is some research showing that consuming dates provides moderate analgesic (pain-relieving) properties [5].
Dates also have a blocking effect on pain by inhibiting the inflammatory pathway of pain sensation by suppressing the production of prostaglandins [5].
Does Having Dates in Pregnancy Affect Postpartum Hemorrhage?
Postpartum hemorrhage is a rare but serious condition when a woman has excessive heavy bleeding after birth. Hemorrhaging can lead to shock or death if not treated quickly.
Eating dates is associated with lower blood pressure in pregnancy, which is speculated to reduce bleeding in the first hour after birth.
In one clinical trial, the average rate of bleeding in the first hour was less in the group given 50 g of dates compared to the other group. The other group received 10 units of intramuscular Pitocin (synthetic oxytocin).
The average amount of bleeding 3 hours after the births was significantly lower in the dates group compared to the Pitcoin group [6].
Similarly, in another clinical trial, women were either given 20 units of Pitocin or 10 units of Pitocin and 100 g of dates within 10 minutes of birth. After 2 hours, there was a significant difference in postpartum hemorrhage between the two groups.
The average bleeding was lower in the dates group.
This study concludes that dates were more effective than Pitocin in effectively reducing postpartum hemorrhage after natural childbirth. Further, consuming this fruit during the pregnancy and even the postpartum period is recommended [7].
How Many Dates in Pregnancy
Eating about 2.5 oz (4-6 dates) daily starting at 36-37 weeks were provides these birth and postpartum benefits.
Are Dates Good During Pregnancy?
For many women, dates are a fantastic fruit to consume during pregnancy! Dates are also safe during pregnancy for most, too.
The high sugar content of dates makes them a quick source of energy during labor.
However, before eating any dates in pregnancy consider if you have been struggling with high blood sugar in your pregnancy and talk to your midwife if needed. Dates have a high glucose content. Dates provide about 75 g of carbohydrates per every 100 g, and most of which is sugar.
It’s likely helpful to pair dates with a fat, protein, or fiber-rich food to help reduce the blood sugar spike from eating these dates, but it’ll still very likely increase your blood sugar even a bit, so just consider that when it comes to consuming dates.
Conclusion
Having dates in pregnancy daily may improve cervical dilation and cervix ripening, increase the likelihood of spontaneous labor and vaginal birth, and lower the need for other medical interventions!
The only thing you need to be careful of when eating dates is the sugar content. Specifically, if you have gestational diabetes that you’re trying to manage. In this case, it may be better for you to skip the dates.
But if you have a normal and healthy pregnancy, you can definitely eat dates to help your body prepare for labor.
Good luck with your labor and birth experience, mama! You got this!
Questions or Comments on “The Truth About Having Dates in Pregnancy”?
If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below👇🏻
Talk soon, mama!
– Katelyn Lauren
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Sources
[1] Al-Kuran, O., Al-Mehaisen, L., Bawadi, H., Beitawi, S., & Amarin, Z. (2011). The effect of late pregnancy consumption of date fruit on labour and delivery. Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 31(1), 29–31. https://doi.org/10.3109/01443615.2010.522267
[2] Bagherzadeh Karimi, A., Elmi, A., Mirghafourvand, M., & Baghervand Navid, R. (2020). Effects of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on labor and delivery outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 20(1), 210. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-02915-x
[3] Baliga, Manjeshwar Shrinath, et al. “A review of the chemistry and pharmacology of the date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera L.).” Food research international 44.7 (2011): 1812-1822.
[4] Taavoni, Simin, et al. “The Effect of Oral Date Syrup on Severity of Labor Pain in Nulliparous.” Shiraz E-Medical Journal 20.1 (2019).
[5] Rahmani, A. H., Aly, S. M., Ali, H., Babiker, A. Y., Srikar, S., & Khan, A. A. (2014). Therapeutic effects of date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera) in the prevention of diseases via modulation of anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-tumour activity. International journal of clinical and experimental medicine, 7(3), 483–491.
[6] Khadem, N., et al. “Comparing the efficacy of dates and oxytocin in the management of postpartum hemorrhage.” Shiraz E-Medical Journal 8.2 (2007): 64-71.
[7] Niknami, M., Farash, M., Rahnavardi, M., Maroufizadeh, S., & Darkhaneh, R. F. (2023). The effect of date fruit consumption on early postpartum hemorrhage: a randomized clinical trial. BMC women’s health, 23(1), 441. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02604-9
DISCLAIMER: This post is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding you or your baby’s health. Please read my Medical Disclaimer for more info
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