Options
Rename Topic
Delete Topic
Are you sure you want to delete this topic?
Shared by Zenith Health
What made this response need improvement?
What are the benefits of eating dates? Is there strong evidence that they're actually beneficial?
Penny found 20 sources
with relevant information, and the following are cited
11 peer-reviewed research articles
3 articles from healthcare institutions
Eating Dates in Pregnancy: What the Evidence Shows
Dates may offer benefits for labor and overall nutrition, but the strength of the evidence varies.
What Research Says About Dates and Labor
Eating dates in the last weeks of pregnancy may help with labor progress and reduce interventions.
- Several studies and systematic reviews suggest that eating dates (often 6 per day) during the last 3–4 weeks of pregnancy can:
- Shorten the first stage of labor (the time before active labor begins)
- Increase cervical dilation at hospital admission
- Reduce the need for labor induction or medications like oxytocin
- Increase the likelihood of spontaneous (unassisted) labor
-
Possibly reduce postpartum bleeding
The effect of late pregnancy consumption of date fruit on labour and delivery - PubMedWe set out to investigate the effect of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera) consumption on labour parameters and delivery outcomes. Between 1 February 2007 and 31 January 2008 at Jordan University of Science and Technology, a prospective study was carried out on 69 women who consumed six date ...Read full articleSource: PubMedEffect of Dates in Late Pregnancy on the Duration of Labor in Nulliparous Women - PMCAlkuran is his study showed that date is effective in oxytocin receptors and causes more effective cervical dilutions; therefore, the need for oxytocin and prostaglandins for induction and speeding up labor in women consuming dates is less in late pregnancy.[10] The effect of oxytocin in developing ...Read full articleSource: PubMed CentralThe Effects of Date Consumption on Labor and Vaginal Birth - PMCThis fruit also contains hormones ... up of the delivery progress. According to Kordi et al. and Yusefy et al., consuming date fruits in late pregnancy has a significant role in spontaneous labour (7)....Read full articleSource: PubMed CentralIs oral consumption of dates (Phoenix dactylifera L. fruit) in the peripartum period effective and safe integrative care to facilitate childbirth and improve perinatal outcomes: a comprehensive revised systematic review and dose-response meta-analysi...Four trials measured gestation duration following eating DPF in pure form during late pregnancy [28, 31, 56, 66]. Based on the meta-analysis, dates consumption had a low but significant effect on reducing gestation duration compared to the standard care (three RCTs and one non-RCT, WMD= ˗1.97 ...Read full articleSource: BioMed CentralThe effect of late pregnancy date fruit consumption on delivery progress – A meta-analysis - ScienceDirectLate pregnancydate fruit consumption may decrease the need for labor induction. ... Late pregnancydate fruit consumption may shorten latent and second stages of labor. ... Further large-scale well-planned randomized controlled trials should be conducted. To summarize the available evidence ...Read full articleSource: sciencedirect.comThe Effects of Date Consumption on Labor and Vaginal Birth - PubMedResearch has shown that date fruit ... effect on the female reproductive system. Several studies have examined the impact of date consumption during pregnancy on the outcomeoflabor, providing useful results....Read full articleSource: PubMedThe effect of late pregnancy date fruit consumption on delivery progress - A meta-analysis - PubMedWomen consuming date fruit were ... risk (RR) 0.6, 95% CI 0.43-0.83). Date fruit consumption was associated with shorter latent phase (MD -4.6 hours, 95% CI -7.77 to -1.4) and second stage duration (MD -7.7 minutes, 95% CI -12.0 to -3.4)....Read full articleSource: PubMedIs oral consumption of dates (Phoenix dactylifera L. fruit) in the peripartum period effective and safe integrative care to facilitate childbirth and improve perinatal outcomes: a comprehensive revised systematic review and dose-response meta-analysi...The dates intake in labor also significantly reduced labor duration, except for the third labor stage, and increased CD two hours post-intervention. Moreover, the intervention during postpartum significantly boosted the breast milk quantity and reduced post-delivery hemorrhage.Read full articleSource: PubMedThe Sweet Secret to a Smoother Labour: Dates During Pregnancy - Pelvic Health Physiotherapy WellingtonYes, those sweet, sticky fruits might just be your new best friend as you approach your due date.Read full articleSource: pelvicphysio.co.nzEffect of Dates in Late Pregnancy on the Duration of Labor in Nulliparous Women - PubMedIs oral consumption of dates (Phoenix ... outcomes: a comprehensive revised systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Salajegheh Z, Nasiri M, Imanipour M, Zamanifard M, Sadeghi O, Ghasemi Dehcheshmeh M, Asadi M. Salajegheh Z, et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2024 Jan 2;24(1):12. doi: 10.1186/s12884-023-06196-y. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2024. PMID: 38166785 Free PMC article. Effects of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on laborand delivery ...Read full articleSource: PubMed
- The effect on the total length of labor is generally small but may be meaningful for some people.
-
No significant differences have been found in negative outcomes for the baby or mother when dates are consumed in late pregnancy.
Is oral consumption of dates (Phoenix dactylifera L. fruit) in the peripartum period effective and safe integrative care to facilitate childbirth and improve perinatal outcomes: a comprehensive revised systematic review and dose-response meta-analysi...Four trials measured gestation duration following eating DPF in pure form during late pregnancy [28, 31, 56, 66]. Based on the meta-analysis, dates consumption had a low but significant effect on reducing gestation duration compared to the standard care (three RCTs and one non-RCT, WMD= ˗1.97 ...Read full articleSource: BioMed CentralIs oral consumption of dates (Phoenix dactylifera L. fruit) in the peripartum period effective and safe integrative care to facilitate childbirth and improve perinatal outcomes: a comprehensive revised systematic review and dose-response meta-analysi...The dates intake in labor also significantly reduced labor duration, except for the third labor stage, and increased CD two hours post-intervention. Moreover, the intervention during postpartum significantly boosted the breast milk quantity and reduced post-delivery hemorrhage.Read full articleSource: PubMed
How Strong Is the Evidence?
The benefits are promising, but the quality of studies is mixed.
-
Most studies are small, and some have a high risk of bias (meaning results could be influenced by study design or participant selection).
Is oral consumption of dates (Phoenix dactylifera L. fruit) in the peripartum period effective and safe integrative care to facilitate childbirth and improve perinatal outcomes: a comprehensive revised systematic review and dose-response meta-analysi...Four trials measured gestation duration following eating DPF in pure form during late pregnancy [28, 31, 56, 66]. Based on the meta-analysis, dates consumption had a low but significant effect on reducing gestation duration compared to the standard care (three RCTs and one non-RCT, WMD= ˗1.97 ...Read full articleSource: BioMed CentralThe effect of late pregnancy date fruit consumption on delivery progress – A meta-analysis - ScienceDirectLate pregnancydate fruit consumption may decrease the need for labor induction. ... Late pregnancydate fruit consumption may shorten latent and second stages of labor. ... Further large-scale well-planned randomized controlled trials should be conducted. To summarize the available evidence ...Read full articleSource: sciencedirect.comThe effect of late pregnancy date fruit consumption on delivery progress - A meta-analysis - PubMedWomen consuming date fruit were ... risk (RR) 0.6, 95% CI 0.43-0.83). Date fruit consumption was associated with shorter latent phase (MD -4.6 hours, 95% CI -7.77 to -1.4) and second stage duration (MD -7.7 minutes, 95% CI -12.0 to -3.4)....Read full articleSource: PubMed
-
Meta-analyses (studies that combine results from multiple trials) do show a consistent trend toward benefit, but researchers note that more high-quality, large-scale studies are needed to confirm these effects.
Is oral consumption of dates (Phoenix dactylifera L. fruit) in the peripartum period effective and safe integrative care to facilitate childbirth and improve perinatal outcomes: a comprehensive revised systematic review and dose-response meta-analysi...Four trials measured gestation duration following eating DPF in pure form during late pregnancy [28, 31, 56, 66]. Based on the meta-analysis, dates consumption had a low but significant effect on reducing gestation duration compared to the standard care (three RCTs and one non-RCT, WMD= ˗1.97 ...Read full articleSource: BioMed CentralThe effect of late pregnancy date fruit consumption on delivery progress – A meta-analysis - ScienceDirectLate pregnancydate fruit consumption may decrease the need for labor induction. ... Late pregnancydate fruit consumption may shorten latent and second stages of labor. ... Further large-scale well-planned randomized controlled trials should be conducted. To summarize the available evidence ...Read full articleSource: sciencedirect.comThe effect of late pregnancy date fruit consumption on delivery progress - A meta-analysis - PubMedWomen consuming date fruit were ... risk (RR) 0.6, 95% CI 0.43-0.83). Date fruit consumption was associated with shorter latent phase (MD -4.6 hours, 95% CI -7.77 to -1.4) and second stage duration (MD -7.7 minutes, 95% CI -12.0 to -3.4)....Read full articleSource: PubMed
-
There is no consensus on the exact amount or timing of date consumption for best results, but 6 dates per day for the last 3–4 weeks of pregnancy is commonly studied.
The effect of late pregnancy consumption of date fruit on labour and delivery - PubMedWe set out to investigate the effect of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera) consumption on labour parameters and delivery outcomes. Between 1 February 2007 and 31 January 2008 at Jordan University of Science and Technology, a prospective study was carried out on 69 women who consumed six date ...Read full articleSource: PubMedThe Effects of Date Consumption on Labor and Vaginal Birth - PMCThis fruit also contains hormones ... up of the delivery progress. According to Kordi et al. and Yusefy et al., consuming date fruits in late pregnancy has a significant role in spontaneous labour (7)....Read full articleSource: PubMed CentralEffects of consuming date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera Linn) on gestation, labor, and delivery: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials - ScienceDirectRecent studies have shown that consumptionofdate fruits during pregnancy and also postpartum period might affect some pregnancy outcomes. We perform…Read full articleSource: sciencedirect.com
Nutritional Benefits of Dates
Dates are a nutritious food that can support overall health in pregnancy.
-
Dates are high in natural sugars (fructose, glucose), fiber, potassium, magnesium, and small amounts of iron and calcium.
The Sweet Secret to a Smoother Labour: Dates During Pregnancy - Pelvic Health Physiotherapy WellingtonYes, those sweet, sticky fruits might just be your new best friend as you approach your due date.Read full articleSource: pelvicphysio.co.nzEffects of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on labor and delivery outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Full TextDate fruit contains different vitamins ... [21, 22]. Date fruit due to energy production and having enough calories, can be helpful for pregnant women during labor, and it can also prevent physical weakness [23,24,25]. Furthermore, because it contains sugar, it is fast in digestion ...Read full articleSource: BioMed CentralThe Sweet Health Benefits of DatesFruit from palm trees, dates are rich in fiber, antioxidants and phytonutrients, and can help improve gut health, fight chronic diseases, boost brain health and more.Read full articleSource: Cleveland Clinic12 Health Benefits of Dates and Nutritional ValuePumpkin seeds are edible seeds ... high nutritionalvalue. These flat and white seeds of the pumpkin plant ar... ... Our skin plays a crucial role, constituting one-seventh of our total body weight. It acts as a superhero, shielding us from the sun, cold, germs, and ... ... Many C-sections, or caesarean deliveries, are performed due to certain pregnancy complications ...Read full articleSource: Care Hospitals
-
The fiber in dates may help with digestion and reduce constipation, which is common in pregnancy.
12 Health Benefits of Dates and Nutritional ValuePumpkin seeds are edible seeds ... high nutritionalvalue. These flat and white seeds of the pumpkin plant ar... ... Our skin plays a crucial role, constituting one-seventh of our total body weight. It acts as a superhero, shielding us from the sun, cold, germs, and ... ... Many C-sections, or caesarean deliveries, are performed due to certain pregnancy complications ...Read full articleSource: Care Hospitals
-
Dates provide quick energy, which may be helpful during labor.
The Sweet Secret to a Smoother Labour: Dates During Pregnancy - Pelvic Health Physiotherapy WellingtonYes, those sweet, sticky fruits might just be your new best friend as you approach your due date.Read full articleSource: pelvicphysio.co.nzEffects of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on labor and delivery outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Full TextDate fruit contains different vitamins ... [21, 22]. Date fruit due to energy production and having enough calories, can be helpful for pregnant women during labor, and it can also prevent physical weakness [23,24,25]. Furthermore, because it contains sugar, it is fast in digestion ...Read full articleSource: BioMed Central
-
They also contain antioxidants and other plant compounds that may have general health benefits, though these are less well-studied in pregnancy.
The Effects of Date Consumption on Labor and Vaginal Birth - PMCThis fruit also contains hormones ... up of the delivery progress. According to Kordi et al. and Yusefy et al., consuming date fruits in late pregnancy has a significant role in spontaneous labour (7)....Read full articleSource: PubMed CentralThe Sweet Health Benefits of DatesFruit from palm trees, dates are rich in fiber, antioxidants and phytonutrients, and can help improve gut health, fight chronic diseases, boost brain health and more.Read full articleSource: Cleveland Clinic
Are There Any Risks or Downsides?
No serious risks have been reported in studies of date consumption during pregnancy.
-
Dates are generally considered safe for most people when eaten in typical food amounts.
Is oral consumption of dates (Phoenix dactylifera L. fruit) in the peripartum period effective and safe integrative care to facilitate childbirth and improve perinatal outcomes: a comprehensive revised systematic review and dose-response meta-analysi...Four trials measured gestation duration following eating DPF in pure form during late pregnancy [28, 31, 56, 66]. Based on the meta-analysis, dates consumption had a low but significant effect on reducing gestation duration compared to the standard care (three RCTs and one non-RCT, WMD= ˗1.97 ...Read full articleSource: BioMed CentralThe Sweet Secret to a Smoother Labour: Dates During Pregnancy - Pelvic Health Physiotherapy WellingtonYes, those sweet, sticky fruits might just be your new best friend as you approach your due date.Read full articleSource: pelvicphysio.co.nzThe Sweet Health Benefits of DatesFruit from palm trees, dates are rich in fiber, antioxidants and phytonutrients, and can help improve gut health, fight chronic diseases, boost brain health and more.Read full articleSource: Cleveland Clinic
-
Because they are high in natural sugars, people with gestational diabetes or concerns about blood sugar may want to discuss date consumption with their healthcare provider.
The Sweet Health Benefits of DatesFruit from palm trees, dates are rich in fiber, antioxidants and phytonutrients, and can help improve gut health, fight chronic diseases, boost brain health and more.Read full articleSource: Cleveland Clinic
-
There is no evidence that dates cause harm to the baby or increase the risk of complications when eaten in late pregnancy.
Is oral consumption of dates (Phoenix dactylifera L. fruit) in the peripartum period effective and safe integrative care to facilitate childbirth and improve perinatal outcomes: a comprehensive revised systematic review and dose-response meta-analysi...Four trials measured gestation duration following eating DPF in pure form during late pregnancy [28, 31, 56, 66]. Based on the meta-analysis, dates consumption had a low but significant effect on reducing gestation duration compared to the standard care (three RCTs and one non-RCT, WMD= ˗1.97 ...Read full articleSource: BioMed CentralIs oral consumption of dates (Phoenix dactylifera L. fruit) in the peripartum period effective and safe integrative care to facilitate childbirth and improve perinatal outcomes: a comprehensive revised systematic review and dose-response meta-analysi...The dates intake in labor also significantly reduced labor duration, except for the third labor stage, and increased CD two hours post-intervention. Moreover, the intervention during postpartum significantly boosted the breast milk quantity and reduced post-delivery hemorrhage.Read full articleSource: PubMed
Bottom Line: What to Consider
- Eating dates in the last weeks of pregnancy may help with labor progress and reduce the need for medical interventions, with no evidence of harm.
- The evidence is promising but not definitive; more research is needed to confirm the benefits.
- Dates are a nutritious food that can be part of a healthy pregnancy diet.
- If you have specific health conditions (like gestational diabetes), it might be beneficial to discuss date consumption with your OB/GYN or midwife, who can provide guidance based on your overall health.
Providing feedback helps us improve Penny's responses.
Peer-Reviewed Research
Published, peer-reviewed scientific studies from journals or databases.
1
The effect of late pregnancy consumption of date fruit on labour and delivery - PubMed
We set out to investigate the effect of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera) consumption on labour parameters and delivery outcomes. Between 1 February 2007 and 31 January 2008 at Jordan University of Science and Technology, a prospective study was carried out on 69 women who consumed six date ...
Read full article
Source:
PubMed
2
Effect of Dates in Late Pregnancy on the Duration of Labor in Nulliparous Women - PMC
Alkuran is his study showed that date is effective in oxytocin receptors and causes more effective cervical dilutions; therefore, the need for oxytocin and prostaglandins for induction and speeding up labor in women consuming dates is less in late pregnancy.[10] The effect of oxytocin in developing ...
Read full article
Source:
PubMed Central
3
The Effects of Date Consumption on Labor and Vaginal Birth - PMC
This fruit also contains hormones ... up of the delivery progress. According to Kordi et al. and Yusefy et al., consuming date fruits in late pregnancy has a significant role in spontaneous labour (7)....
Read full article
Source:
PubMed Central
4
Is oral consumption of dates (Phoenix dactylifera L. fruit) in the peripartum period effective and safe integrative care to facilitate childbirth and improve perinatal outcomes: a comprehensive revised systematic review and dose-response meta-analysi...
Four trials measured gestation duration following eating DPF in pure form during late pregnancy [28, 31, 56, 66]. Based on the meta-analysis, dates consumption had a low but significant effect on reducing gestation duration compared to the standard care (three RCTs and one non-RCT, WMD= ˗1.97 ...
Read full article
Source:
BioMed Central
5
The effect of late pregnancy date fruit consumption on delivery progress – A meta-analysis - ScienceDirect
Late pregnancydate fruit consumption may decrease the need for labor induction. ... Late pregnancydate fruit consumption may shorten latent and second stages of labor. ... Further large-scale well-planned randomized controlled trials should be conducted. To summarize the available evidence ...
Read full article
Source:
sciencedirect.com
6
The Effects of Date Consumption on Labor and Vaginal Birth - PubMed
Research has shown that date fruit ... effect on the female reproductive system. Several studies have examined the impact of date consumption during pregnancy on the outcomeoflabor, providing useful results....
Read full article
Source:
PubMed
7
The effect of late pregnancy date fruit consumption on delivery progress - A meta-analysis - PubMed
Women consuming date fruit were ... risk (RR) 0.6, 95% CI 0.43-0.83). Date fruit consumption was associated with shorter latent phase (MD -4.6 hours, 95% CI -7.77 to -1.4) and second stage duration (MD -7.7 minutes, 95% CI -12.0 to -3.4)....
Read full article
Source:
PubMed
The effect of late pregnancy consumption of date fruit on labour and delivery | Request PDF
Parallel-group randomized and ... late pregnancy, labor, or postpartum) to assess standard care plus oral consumptionofdates versus standard care alone or combined with other alternative interventions. The Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias (RoB) assessment tools and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) were employed to evaluate the potential RoB and the overall quality of the evidence, ...
Read full article
Source:
ResearchGate
8
Is oral consumption of dates (Phoenix dactylifera L. fruit) in the peripartum period effective and safe integrative care to facilitate childbirth and improve perinatal outcomes: a comprehensive revised systematic review and dose-response meta-analysi...
The dates intake in labor also significantly reduced labor duration, except for the third labor stage, and increased CD two hours post-intervention. Moreover, the intervention during postpartum significantly boosted the breast milk quantity and reduced post-delivery hemorrhage.
Read full article
Source:
PubMed
10
Effect of Dates in Late Pregnancy on the Duration of Labor in Nulliparous Women - PubMed
Is oral consumption of dates (Phoenix ... outcomes: a comprehensive revised systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Salajegheh Z, Nasiri M, Imanipour M, Zamanifard M, Sadeghi O, Ghasemi Dehcheshmeh M, Asadi M. Salajegheh Z, et al. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2024 Jan 2;24(1):12. doi: 10.1186/s12884-023-06196-y. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2024. PMID: 38166785 Free PMC article. Effects of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on laborand delivery ...
Read full article
Source:
PubMed
11
Effects of consuming date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera Linn) on gestation, labor, and delivery: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials - ScienceDirect
Recent studies have shown that consumptionofdate fruits during pregnancy and also postpartum period might affect some pregnancy outcomes. We perform…
Read full article
Source:
sciencedirect.com
12
Effects of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on labor and delivery outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Full Text
Date fruit contains different vitamins ... [21, 22]. Date fruit due to energy production and having enough calories, can be helpful for pregnant women during labor, and it can also prevent physical weakness [23,24,25]. Furthermore, because it contains sugar, it is fast in digestion ...
Read full article
Source:
BioMed Central
Does eating dates prior to labor hasten labor outcomes? : Evidence-Based Practice
Colleague's E-mail is Invalid · Your message has been successfully sent to your colleague
Read full article
Source:
journals.lww.com
Clinical Guidelines & Professional Sources
Clinical recommendations from government, public health organizations, or professional medical provider associations.
Induction of Labor at 39 Weeks | ACOG
New research suggests that induction for healthy women at 39 weeks in their first full-term pregnancies may reduce the risk of cesarean birth.
Medical & Academic Institutions
Information from hospitals, research institutions, or academic medical centers known for clinical expertise and research contributions.
9
The Sweet Secret to a Smoother Labour: Dates During Pregnancy - Pelvic Health Physiotherapy Wellington
Yes, those sweet, sticky fruits might just be your new best friend as you approach your due date.
Read full article
Source:
pelvicphysio.co.nz
13
The Sweet Health Benefits of Dates
Fruit from palm trees, dates are rich in fiber, antioxidants and phytonutrients, and can help improve gut health, fight chronic diseases, boost brain health and more.
Read full article
Source:
Cleveland Clinic
14
12 Health Benefits of Dates and Nutritional Value
Pumpkin seeds are edible seeds ... high nutritionalvalue. These flat and white seeds of the pumpkin plant ar... ... Our skin plays a crucial role, constituting one-seventh of our total body weight. It acts as a superhero, shielding us from the sun, cold, germs, and ... ... Many C-sections, or caesarean deliveries, are performed due to certain pregnancy complications ...
Read full article
Source:
Care Hospitals
The Effect of Late Pregnancy Consumption of Date Fruit on Cervical Ripening in Nulliparous Women
Background and Aim: Cervical ripening before the onset of labor is an important factor for the prediction of delivery mode, and is directly associated with vaginal delivery. The search for a safe, inexpensive, and easy method of cervical ripening is of great significance.
Read full article
Source:
jmrh.mums.ac.ir
Does Eating Dates Help Labour Outcomes? — The Postpartum Physio
Bagherzadeh Karimi (2020) conducted a systematic review and meta analysis on the effects of date fruit and delivery outcomes. Eight studies were included in the qualitative and quantitative synthesis. Meta-Analysis showed that date fruit consumption can significantly reduce active phase of labor.
Eating Dates During Pregnancy - BirthWorks International
Furthermore ACOG states, “When a woman and her fetus are healthy, induction should not be done before 39 weeks. Babies born at or after 39 weeks have the best chance at healthy outcomes compared with babies born before 39 weeks. When the health of a woman or her fetus is at risk, induction before 39 weeks may be recommended.”2 ... In this study3, eating dates was tested in a randomized, controlled trial for cervical ripening. Dates were shown to shorten labor ...
Read full article
Source:
birthworks.org