11/16/2025
I strongly advocate for eating dates! They are incredibly beneficial! If you cannot stomach them plain, search for recipes on Pinterest. Add them to smoothies, date balls, chocolate and peanut butter, RX bars and Làrabars contain two dates each. It is highly recommended to consume them during the last few weeks of pregnancy!
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An incredible study found that pregnant women who consumed just 6 dates a day in the 4 weeks leading up to their due date were 74% more dilated upon arriving to the hospital to deliver the baby, had a 77% shorter first stage of labor and a 42% lower rate of caesarean sections.
Eating dates in the late stages of pregnancy leads to higher cervical dilation upon hospital admission because the fruit contains nutrients that influence oxytocin receptors, preparing the cervix and uterus for labor by increasing muscle response to oxytocin and other labor-supporting hormones. Dates are a rich source of energy from natural sugars and fats and also contain prostaglandins, which contribute to cervical ripening. Additionally, they provide, serotonin, calcium, and tannins, which contribute to powerful uterine contractions.
Eating dates in the late stages of pregnancy shortens the first stage of labor due to their ability to stimulate the production of prostaglandins, which promote cervical ripening (softening and thinning of the cervix) and increase uterine contractions. Dates also contain tannins, which have a similar effect, and provide a natural sugars source for energy during labor. Some studies even suggest that dates can increase uterine sensitivity to oxytocin, leading to more effective contractions and a quicker and smoother labor process.
These actions are also the exact reason why women who eat dates in the late stages of pregnancy are far less likely to need a C-Section.
The most common recommendation is for women to begin eating 6 dates a day starting in their 37th week of pregnancy.
PMID: 40322306, 21280989
