Many people have long believed that dates help induce labor. There's some evidence that shows eating dates may help shorten labor, but it won't necessarily kick-start it. One study of more than 200 pregnant women in 2013 showed that eating dates can help with the softening of the cervix or cervical ripening for labor.
At the conclusion of the study, researchers discovered that the women who ate six dates a day for 4 weeks had a shorter first stage of labor, a higher mean cervical dilatation, and more had intact membranes upon arrival at the hospital. (In other words, their cervix was more ripe for giving birth.)
Dates. In one small study, women who ate six dates per day in the month leading up to their due dates had a higher chance of going into labor on their own and had higher cervical dilation when they were admitted.
Spontaneous labour occurred in 96% of those who consumed dates, compared with 79% women in the non-date fruit consumers (p = 0.024). Use of prostin/oxytocin was significantly lower in women who consumed dates (28%), compared with the non-date fruit consumers (47%) (p = 0.036).
This study “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 favorable, but non-significant, delivery outcome.”
Dates can support a healthy labor
While there are many myths surrounding ways to induce labor, eating dates has some real scientific data supporting their consumption. Specifically, eating dates has been shown to increase cervical ripening.
In the third trimester, eating dates can make your labor shorter and easier. Pregnant women can eat six dates a day starting from the 36th week, which is four weeks before the estimated due date (1).
In addition, date fruit contains any hormones that prepare uterine to stretching and child birth [28]. Also, date can accelerate labor process, increase cervix dilatation, and reduce the need for induction [23, 24].
Since date fruit is full of energy and nutrients, it is recommended for pregnant women to help with cervical ripening, particularly in the last weeks of gestation.
Can Dates Induce Labor? Many people have long believed that dates help induce labor. There's some evidence that shows eating dates may help shorten labor, but it won't necessarily kick-start it.
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.
Pineapple contains an enzyme known as bromelain which is believed to cause cervical ripening. Cervical ripening is the first step towards cervical dilation which could eventually lead to labour. It is believed that the highest concentration of bromelain is present in the core of the pineapple.
In addition, oxytocin use was significantly lower in the group of women who consumed dates. The researchers conclude that date consumption was beneficial in reducing the duration of labor and reducing the need for oxytocin injections to speed up labor.
Researchers believe that eating dates contributes to the process of cervical ripening. Cervical ripening is a collective term for dilatation, effacement, position, and consistency, and fetal station in vaginal examination.
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. You may feel contractions during this process. If the contractions become painful, you will be able to request medication to relieve your discomfort.
Dates can boost the oxytocin effect (help the uterus to contract) and increase the sensitivity of the uterus. The saturated and unsaturated fats in the dates provide energy and prostaglandin required for labour. The serotonin, calcium and tannin within the dates help the contraction of the uterine muscles.
As the baby's head drops down into the pelvis, it pushes against the cervix. This causes the cervix to relax and thin out, or efface. During pregnancy, your cervix has been closed and protected by a plug of mucus. When the cervix effaces, the mucus plug comes loose and passes out of the vagina.
Getting up and moving around may help speed dilation by increasing blood flow. Walking around the room, doing simple movements in bed or chair, or even changing positions may encourage dilation. This is because the weight of the baby applies pressure to the cervix.
Of course, you can begin eating dates earlier in your pregnancy if you like. 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!
The difference between Medjool dates and regular dates are that they come from different cultivars of the same plant. Medjool dates are picked early in the ripening season when they are soft. Whereas the regular dates, also known as 'Deglet Noor dates', fall in the semi-dry category of dates.
The studies mentioned recommend 6 pieces of date fruit per day. Aim to be eating 6 dates per day by week 36, but it would probably be helpful to begin even sooner! Start slowly and don't overdo the dates, however, since they do have a laxative effect on the body!