22/11/2025
An incredible study found that women who ate 6 dates a day in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy were...
• 74% more dilated when they arrived at the hospital
• Had a 77% shorter first stage of labor
• And were 42% less likely to need a C-section
So what makes dates so powerful?
Dates are packed with nutrients that actually prepare the cervix and uterus for labor.
They influence oxytocin receptors, which means the body responds more effectively to the natural hormones that trigger labor.
They also contain prostaglandins that help ripen (soften and thin) the cervix,
and tannins that encourage stronger, more efficient contractions.
On top of that, dates provide natural sugars and fats for energy during labor,
plus calcium and serotonin to support the body through the intensity of birth.
Some studies even suggest dates make the uterus more sensitive to oxytocin—
leading to smoother, more effective contractions and shorter labors.
This is also why women who eat dates late in pregnancy are far less likely to need a C-section.
The most common recommendation is to start eating 6 dates a day from 37 weeks until birth.
I’m a midwife and a home birthing mama,
and I was encouraged to eat dates in my own pregnancy and honestly, I think it helped me.
Share this with a pregnant mama, or save it for later 🖤
Did you eat dates in late pregnancy?
What was your experience?
