Whether or not you can eat dates during pregnancy is the question that many pregnant women ask themselves when they get a craving for dried fruit.
Mainly because dates are said to stimulate labor and make childbirth easier.
Now that you should be especially careful about your diet, it’s no wonder that you’re now interested in everything about dates.
Because you have probably already read everything about crustaceans during pregnancy and know that raw meat and meat products made from raw meat , raw fish and its products are taboo, as are all foods where you do not know exactly where they come from.
But is all this true? Can snacking on fruit actually induce labor and even facilitate it? First-time mothers, in particular, would like to believe this.
Although there are various myths surrounding many other fruits and foods, it is true that dates do indeed contribute to an easier and faster birth. However, there is no scientific evidence that they induce labor, and there is no evidence that consuming dates could endanger a pregnancy.
Dates are packed with important nutrients that your body needs during pregnancy, but dates also contain calories that you should be aware of during pregnancy.
But even though they are very high in calories, dates are still better than a chocolate bar and if you snack on dates diligently in the last few weeks before your due date, you can also look forward to an easier birth.
Indeed, it is a sweet promise that I would like to explore in this article and answer some of your questions about dates.
How healthy are dates during pregnancy?
The benefits of dates during pregnancy are many.
Did you know that you will feel better during pregnancy if you provide your body with enough vitamins and nutrients?
Dates are among the sweetest fruits that provide you with many vitamins and nutrients and are also a better choice of sweet treat when you get a little hungry.
They are an excellent source of fructose, which will give you energy and help combat pregnancy fatigue.
Dates are not only sweet, they are also loaded with fiber, which helps your digestive system function properly.
In other words, dates will help you if you suffer from pregnancy-related constipation.
In addition, dates are rich in potassium, a mineral that helps relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure.
They are also red dates are also great sources of iron and vitamin K.
Furthermore, increasing the amount of iron in your diet during pregnancy is necessary to boost your energy levels and combat iron deficiency anemia.
Vitamin K ensures that your unborn baby develops strong bones and supports its muscle and nerve function.
Why should I eat dates during pregnancy?
According to many nutritionists and midwives, dates during pregnancy are the super fruit.
Loaded with many vitamins and minerals as well as fiber, they are considered safe during pregnancy.
Eating dates prepares a pregnant woman’s body for childbirth and should be part of every expectant mother’s preparation for childbirth .
You might be wondering what effect dates have on pregnancy.
Consuming dates will provide your body with important minerals such as potassium and magnesium, trace elements such as zinc, iron and iodine, vitamin C and vitamin K, and the fiber they contain will support your digestion.
Why shouldn’t I eat dates?
Dates are not only healthy, but also safe during pregnancy.
There is no reason to believe that dates have a negative impact on pregnancy in early pregnancy, even from the first week of pregnancy until the end of pregnancy.
In fact, the opposite is true: eating dates can have a positive effect and help you feel better, especially if you are suffering from low energy or constipation.
However, if you are trying dried or fresh dates for the first time during pregnancy because you have heard that they will make labor easier, you should be aware of the (very small) risk of an allergic reaction to dates.
Signs of an allergic reaction to dates include itching, tingling, or swelling in the mouth or on the tongue.
If you experience these symptoms, you should stop eating dates immediately.
Although dates are certainly the better option when it comes to satisfying sweet cravings, you still shouldn’t overdo it.
Because dates are also rich in carbohydrates and calories.
And even though this super fruit has many benefits, if you need to watch your calorie intake or blood sugar, or if you suffer from gestational diabetes, you should limit your consumption to a maximum of 6 dates per day.
Because the best way to regulate your blood sugar is to stop eating foods that raise it.
Are dates also allowed for gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is a pregnancy-related metabolic disease, also known as gestational diabetes.
This condition occurs in approximately 5-6% of pregnant women during pregnancy.
The hormonal balance changes massively during pregnancy and throws the metabolism out of balance, resulting in gestational diabetes.
If you are also affected by gestational diabetes, then you know that you should place great importance on a proper and balanced diet, which is crucial for your health and that of your baby.
Unfortunately, there is no general answer to how you should eat in this case, because it depends on each woman what is “right” in this case.
I also have to disappoint you that pregnant women who suffered from gestational diabetes were not included in any of the following studies, so there is no answer to the question of whether or not women with gestational diabetes can consume dates as preparation for childbirth.
In this case, it is best to discuss this issue with your gynecologist or seek advice from a nutritionist or midwife before enjoying dates on your own and putting yourself and your baby at potential risk.
Dates during pregnancy – study
Since the question of whether dates should be eaten during pregnancy is of increasing interest to pregnant women, several scientists have also looked into this topic and tested the effects of dates in various studies.
The result of the study “The effect of late pregnancy consumption of date fruit on labor and delivery” by the Jordanian research team, led by researcher Al-Kuran, showed in 2011 that dates have a positive influence as part of birth preparation.
They conducted the study on 114 pregnant women, 69 of whom consumed dates and ate 5-7 dates per day from the 36th week of pregnancy.
The rest of the pregnant women abstained from consuming dates, and the study’s results showed that, in contrast to them, the expectant mothers who ate dates had a significantly shorter latency period, were more likely to have an intact amniotic sac at the time of birth, and were less likely to need labor-inducing hormones during childbirth.
In 2017, a Malaysian study also showed a reduced need for labor intensification in pregnant women during labor who ate approximately 5-7 dates daily from the 36th week of pregnancy.
These results were confirmed in the same year by the study entitled “Effect of Dates in Late Pregnancy on the Duration of Labor in Nulliparous Women” from Iran under the direction of scientist Masoumeh Kordi, where about 200 pregnant women were divided into two groups, just like in the Jordanian study.
In addition to the findings of the Jordanian study, this new study also revealed further benefits of dates as preparation for childbirth.
The results of the Iranian study showed that the date group had a shorter expulsion phase during birth and a faster placenta.
These findings tell us that women who eat dates diligently from the 36th week of pregnancy onwards as preparation for birth are likely to have an easier birth.
If you also snack on dates, you can look forward to the following possible effects during labor:
• Fewer/no labor-inducing hormones
• Intact amniotic sac
• Shorter latency phase
• Shorter expulsion phase
• Faster afterbirth
Why eat dates from week 36 until the end of pregnancy?
As you may have read, the positive effects of dates during childbirth have been scientifically proven, so it’s no surprise that so many people recommend them as part of birth preparation.
If you also want to benefit from this desert fruit, you should also regularly consume about 6 dates a day towards the end of your pregnancy.
Towards the end of your pregnancy, it is also advisable to avoid foods that are high in carbohydrates, as they raise your insulin levels and negatively affect the hormone prostaglandin.
If you want to take advantage of the positive effects of dates on the course of labor, it is important to consume the fruit regularly during the last weeks of pregnancy.
Based on studies, midwives recommend eating six dates daily from the 36th week of pregnancy.
How do dates help with childbirth?
Eating dates daily increases the likelihood of a smooth birth and, according to studies, also promises a faster birth.
It is not known for sure whether dates can trigger labor and what exactly is behind this positive effect on birth.
It is assumed that the interaction of many different factors is responsible for this.
Several factors and the fact that dates have a positive effect on your hormone balance is reason enough to try it to ensure an easy birth.
A quick and uncomplicated birth is thanks to the power of hormones such as prostaglandin, which is produced in the body 4-5 weeks before the due date.
The tissue around the cervix loosens prostaglandin and is responsible for the cervix shortening and together with the hormone oxytocin, prostaglandin triggers contractions.
If the pregnant woman’s body does not have sufficient supplies of these hormones at the time of birth, artificial hormones are immediately administered in the delivery room to induce labor.
In addition, cesarean section is much more common in women who are deficient in these hormones and whose hormonal balance is disrupted.
Not only should you eat dates for an easier birth, they should also be a regular part of your diet afterward. Dates will support your body after birth and help it return to normal more easily.
Even during the postpartum period, snacking on dates will support you and provide your body with important nutrients.
Which dried fruits during pregnancy?
Consuming other dried fruits during pregnancy is also possible.
Because dates are not the only dried fruits you can eat during pregnancy that are good for you and your unborn baby.
Fruit is generally good for you because it contains vitamins, fiber and other nutrients.
You can eat dried fruit on its own, add it to smoothies, or sprinkle it on a salad as a side dish.
Fruit will also help you stay full longer, but you should be aware that dried fruit also tends to contain more calories than its non-dried counterparts.
As with all foods during pregnancy, the rule is “in moderation”.
Dried fruits go through a drying process, which causes them to lose water and at the same time increases their calorie content.
This means that enjoying a handful of your favorite dried fruit is not the same as eating the same amount of fresh fruit.
This is especially important to keep in mind if you need to control your sugar intake during pregnancy.
In this case, you should not exceed more than one cup of dried fruit per day.
Final thoughts
Dates, pregnancy and childbirth go together, as you have read.
This super fruit has all the essential nutrients that a pregnant woman’s body needs and also facilitates childbirth.
As an expectant mother, you want nothing more than for the birth to go smoothly and here you have the opportunity to do your little bit to help, even by snacking.
How long you should eat dates before giving birth is up to you, but the last 4 weeks play a crucial role and are also enough time to build up sufficient reserves of prostaglandin.
Now you know what you can do to make labor easier, and I hope you won’t find it difficult to snack.
However, if you suffer from gestational diabetes, you should definitely discuss this with your gynecologist before consuming it.
Because if snacking brings more risks than benefits, it doesn’t make sense.
I wish you a wonderful pregnancy and a smooth, easy, and quick birth. I also advise you to find out in advance whether certain foods, such as raspberries, honey , or capers, are good for you during pregnancy .
