Dates in Pregnancy

No, not the romantic kind (Although those are also important in late pregnancy for ‘you’ time!), we’re talking the sweet dried fruit of the date palm.

A recent research study found that women who ate 4-6 dates daily in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy, are more likely to:

• Have a more ‘favorable’ cervix when labor starts
• Have intact membranes for longer during labor
• Go into labor spontaneously
• Have a shorter first phase of labor

The date fruit has an oxytocin-like effect on the body, leading to increased sensitivity of the uterus. It also helps stimulate uterine contractions, and may reduce postpartum hemorrhage the way oxytocin does. All that in a little fruit! Snazzy!

Yummy ways to eat dates

• Chopped up as a topping on cereal, salad, yogurt or icecream
• Stuffed with soft cheese (like blue, chevre or feta) and broiled- these can be wrapped with bacon, too
• By themselves as a substitute for candy
• Blended into a smoothie or milkshake
• In baked good like breads, pies and cake