Dates are the pregnancy super food. There are SO many benefits to eating them during your last month of pregnancy. And I’m here to tell you about them.
Benefits During Pregnancy:
Nutritionally, they offer a natural source of energy for you during the day. Their fiber content is beneficial for digestion (especially aiding in the constipation often felt during pregnancy). Potassium, Vitamin K, and Magnesium – all good things for pregnancy. AND Folate, which is extremely important for spinal cord development in your baby, preventing neural tube defects (Pelvic Health).
Benefits During Labor And Delivery (these are what really get me)
1. Make Labor Shorter
SIGN ME UP. Dates have an oxytocin-like effect on the uterus. Oxytocin is what causes your uterus to contract (thinning and dilating your cervix). When your body releases oxytocin naturally in labor, dates actually help the uterus respond better to it. Which means, more effective contractions, and hopefully a shorter labor! (National Library of Medicine)
2. Lower Need For Induction
Women who ate dates were more likely to go into labor spontaneously (Pelvic Physio). Dates help soften the cervix, making it more ready for labor! Dates have natural compounds that mimic prostaglandins, which aid in preparing the cervix for dilation. (National Library of Medicine) A prepared cervix more likely leads to spontaneous labor, yay!
3. Lower Risk Of Postpartum Hemorrhage
Because of dates’ oxytocin-like effect on the uterus, they promote effective uterine contractions after birth as well! This is extremely important to reducing blood loss after birth. Helping the uterus shrink down to its original size AND closing off the blood vessels where the placenta detached. (Journal of Midwifery and Reproductive Health)
How Do I Eat Them?
When you reach 36 weeks it’s recommended that you eat 4-6 dates a day (lean towards 4 for larger dates like medjool, and 6 for smaller dates like deglect noor).
I can’t lie, eating 4-6 dates EVERY DAY for the last 4 weeks of pregnancy stresses me out. It feels like 100. So this pregnancy, I’ve tried to be creative with how I sneak them into my day. Prepping some bulk recipes rather than just trying to eat straight dates. Here are some of my fav recipes!
1. Smoothies
You can literally throw dates into any smoothie recipe and it’s so yum! I don’t even notice they’re in there, and they just add extra sweetness. Here’s a really good recipe I found on Pinterest! I’ve also been really into this one I kind of just made up:
- Ice
- Dates
- Cranberries
- Vanilla Protein Powder
- Chia Seeds
- Milk
2. Date Caramel
Here’s a link to the recipe I use! (I do raw whole milk instead of the dairy free milk) I love dipping apples or chocolate in my date caramel. It’s the best afternoon snack.
3. Date Brownie Bars
These have really gotten me through. I’ve eaten them for almost 2 weeks straight and I’m still not sick of them. Here’s the recipe I use! I spread them in a pan and cut them into squares instead of rolling them into balls. Also, my blender is not super strong, so I added coconut oil and almond butter to help create a smoother texture.
4. Date Energy Bites
Okay these are genius. I feel like everyone loves energy bites with the classic oats, peanut butter, and chocolate chips. So why not squeeze a couple dates in them! Here’s a fun recipe.
5. Date Snickers
Also super into these. It’s a date stuffed with peanut butter (I also add a toasted pecan and it really makes it, in my humble opinion). And then covered in melted chocolate + coconut oil. I store them in the freezer and love that they’re easy to grab and go!
Go Mama Go
I hope this encourages you to eat the dates during YOUR last month of pregnancy! I’m extremely motivated after doing this research to continue to eat my dates (as I roll into my 39th week of pregnancy, eeep!). I want my cervix to be as ripe as possible lol. And with a couple of these fun recipes, you’ll have a soft cervix and be through your last month in no time!
Would love to hear all your thoughts on dates during pregnancy! Did you eat them? Do you feel like they helped? Send me all your fun date recipes!!
xoxo,
Alexa
You’ll love my other posts here!
5 Practical Ways To Prepare Your Husband For Birth
Hospital Bag Must Have’s For A First Time Mama
Hospital Birth Plan Template For The Natural Mama
Works Cited
Miracle Cord – https://miraclecord.com/news/dates-during-pregnancy
National Library of Medicine – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5637148
Journal of Midwifery & Reproductive Health – https://jmrh.mums.ac.ir/article_2772.html
Pelvic Health Physiotherapy –
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