In one study, researchers found that women who ate 6 dates a day for the 4 weeks before delivery had the following results: higher cervical dilatation and ripening at hospital admission. lower c-section rate. less need for certain medications.
Another study showed that pregnant women who ate 6 dates a day for 4 weeks before their due date had a shorter first stage of labor and their cervix was softer before delivery. Eating dates in late pregnancy has also been shown to lessen the need for oxytocin, the medication used to start or speed up labor.
Studies have shown that eating six dates a day in those 4 weeks before your estimated due date can result in easier labor, a shorter first phase of labor, more intact membranes at birth as well as more spontaneous labor without the need for medical intervention or induction.
Date fruit also influences estrogen and progesterone hormones, which are effective in preparing the uterus and cervical ripening (16).
But keep in mind that dates are high in sugar. If you have blood sugar issues, go easy on them early in pregnancy. But, by all means, start eating six dates a day from 36 weeks on!
Yes! It's safe to eat dates during pregnancy and there's no evidence to suggest that dates have a negative effect on any trimester of pregnancy. In fact, they're a great pregnancy snack as they have lots of nutritional value and can help ease symptoms of fatigue and constipation.
How many dates do you need to eat? Most of the research has suggested women consume 60-80 grams of dates each day starting at 36 weeks.
Your cervix can ripen in just a few hours. This fast cervix ripening, however, more commonly happens in women who have had previous babies, as the cervix have already been through the softening and dilating process and it's easier for it to open up faster in future pregnancies.
Pineapple is therefore consumed by pregnant women often in the last weeks of pregnancy in a bid to aid cervical ripening. It is believed that dates can help with the process of cervical ripening while also improving the spontaneity of labour & reducing the chances of postpartum hemorrhage.
Cervical ripening is the initial process to help your cervix dilate and efface (thin out). It is done to improve the likelihood of success of your induction. It is not uncommon for the cervical ripening to take up to 24-36 hours!! It is also not uncommon to use different techniques to ripen the cervix.
Pineapple is therefore consumed by pregnant women often in the last weeks of pregnancy in a bid to aid cervical ripening. It is believed that dates can help with the process of cervical ripening while also improving the spontaneity of labour & reducing the chances of postpartum hemorrhage.
During pregnancy, the cervix usually is firm and stiff enough to help hold the baby in the uterus. That's a good thing for most of the pregnancy. But in the final days or weeks before delivery, the cervix starts to soften and open up.
Studies support that the earlier you start eating the dates the better, the results were higher in the people who started eating them around 36/37 weeks.
"Pressure from the baby's head produces prostaglandins, which signals to your body that it's time to go and start contractions," says Brichter. These prostaglandins also soften and open up the cervix.
[10] Dates affect oxytocin receptors and make uterine muscles respond better to oxytocin, resulting in more effective uterine contractions.
Evening primrose oil (Oenethera biennis) is used widely during the last month of pregnancy by midwives in the Unites States for cervical softening. It is a rich source of omega-6 fatty acids. It is typically administered as two capsules intravaginally at bedtime.
"Some anecdotal evidence has suggested pineapple may assist labor; however, there is no strong evidence that it does. It's thought that the enzyme bromelain may help soften the cervix," Dr. Hack explains. But this has not been proven.
There is no reason to believe that dates have a negative effect during the first, second or third trimester of pregnancy. In fact, the opposite is true: Eating dates can have a positive effect and help you feel better, especially if you suffer from low energy or constipation.
Therefore, labor induction or planned cesarean surgery should never be used before 39 weeks unless there is a clear medical reason.
Dates have no cholesterol and only a small amount of fat. So, if you want to snack on something healthy while also keeping your cholesterol in check, consider adding dates in your diet. Having five to six dates per day is enough for your health.