That’s Why Dates

Positive Effects of Dates During Your Pregnancy and Delivery

Whether you’re a fan or not, eating Ajwa dates during your pregnancy and delivery is believed to have various positive effects. So if you’re looking for a sweet and fairly healthy snack during your pregnancy, eating dates could be a good option for you.

Packed with Vitamins and Minerals

Dates are fruits and can be eaten both fresh and dried. Once ripe, they are very sweet and packed with good and necessary vitamins and minerals. This is especially true for Ajwa dates, known as superfoods among dates. They have a high percentage of proteins and also contain vitamins such as A, B1, B2, and B8. Furthermore, these dates are also full of iron and magnesium. These are precisely the minerals that pregnant women need extra of. Dates are also known for their fiber content. And especially towards the end of pregnancy when you can experience constipation, dates can help keep your bowels moving. Additionally, they contain potassium, which is necessary for a healthy blood pressure, and they are rich in vitamin C. Dates also contain folic acid, which is a bonus, but don’t consider them a replacement for folic acid supplements.

Nutritional Advice for Dates

Do you feel like having a healthy snack during your pregnancy? Then dates are a great choice. Of course, you shouldn’t eat too many of them. The Dutch Nutrition Center considers dates healthy food, but their general advice (not specifically for pregnant women) is not to eat more than 3 dried dates per day. In dried dates, there is more sugar than in fresh ones, so you should eat 4 to 6 of them per day at most. This advice does not apply if you have gestational diabetes. In that case, you should always consult and get advice from your doctor before adding dates to your diet.

Dates for Labor

Several (small-scale) studies worldwide have also looked into the effect of dates on labor. The effect of dates before labor was studied. It was found that if a pregnant woman eats 6 dates a day starting from 4 weeks before labor, there is a much greater chance of labor starting naturally. They also found that there is less frequent use of artificial labor inducers.

Eating Dates During Labor

Eating dates during labor can also be helpful. Because they contain so much sugar, they give you an energy boost during labor itself. So if you’re feeling low, a date can give you a boost. And there are studies indicating that eating dates leads to faster cervical dilation.

Dates in the Postpartum Period and for Breastfeeding

If you’re not tired of dates after your pregnancy and delivery, it’s no problem to continue eating them during the postpartum period. All the minerals and vitamins in them can be beneficial for you shortly after giving birth and in the first week with your baby. It is also claimed that eating dates stimulates your body to produce the hormone prolactin. This is an important hormone that stimulates the milk glands to produce milk. If you’re breastfeeding, eating dates can have a positive effect.

Dates and Labor: Facts or Myths?

The studies on the influence of dates on pregnancy, labor, and your body during the postpartum period are small-scale. We don’t know if these studies distinguished between different types of dates. However, it is generally believed that Ajwa dates have the most beneficial effects on pregnancy and labor. Furthermore, it’s noticeable that all these studies more or less show the same picture. So whether the influence of dates on labor is a fact or a myth, and whether eating dates really leads to a super smooth labor, we can’t say. But as long as your medical condition allows it, we definitely think you can enjoy some extra dates in that last phase of your pregnancy.

Questions About Your Pregnancy or Delivery? Go to Midwives Amsterdam South

During your pregnancy, you probably have many questions about the pregnancy itself and your delivery. You can also come to us, the Midwives Amsterdam South, for that. Make an appointment? Then we’ll talk to you soon!