dates in lead up to labour - anyone tried?

[twiggie]

I've read a few articles recently, and was told by a friend, that eating 6 dates per day in the 4 weeks leading up to due date can make the first stage of labour shorter - anyone given this a try?

And if so, what did you think of the effects, and how did you fit dates into your diet?

I did this before my 2nd labour as I figured it was worth a try. I didn't particularly like them so it was a bit of a struggle. I did have a very quick labour so they might have helped but I'll never know!

I am currently doing this! Started at 36 weeks - have missed a couple of days through being forgetful, but my midwife actually suggested I do it as there is good evidence behind it! Obviously I can't let you know if it's worked yet - I'm currently 38+3 weeks, but I'm hoping they will help! I literally just have them as a snack a couple a time through out the day. I get fresh ones and keep them in the fridge! If I remember I'll come back to this thread after I've had baby and update you on my labour haha!

They will make you poop! Sounds like a daft old wives tale sorry.

I tried it, had them every bloody day for weeks. Sorry to say it didn't work, I was induced at 42+1... I won't be bothering this time, but anything's worth a shot I guess!

I didn't but some ladies on my birth group did with success and swore by them! One or two did it and didn't have any luck, but of the ones who ate them religiously most felt it did help.

I've been wondering about this too. I've read quite a lot of posts by people who said they had a long first labour, but ate dates for their second pregnancies and had shorter labours. However aren't subsequent labours usually shorter anyway? And if your first labour was short after eating dates then how do you know that it wouldn't have been anyway? It seems hard to truly measure

I did read one medical study which found there was a higher chance you would go into labour naturally vs an induction if you ate 6 a day. (Small study though). Problem is they are bloody expensive where I live so 6 a day for the next 4 weeks will cost a fortune!

So I'm still trying to decide what to do!

I was expecting something quite different from the thread title.

thanks guys, yeah i'll be 36wks next week and just wondering whether to give it a go.
I seem to switch from thinking its probably a waste of time, to thinking that even if it is a waste of time, it probably won't hurt either (though may hurt my wallet I guess - that's definitely one to think about ffauxlivia, thanks!).

to be fair, hadn't given the pooping thing any thought at all. but then maybe it would be a bonus remedy for that lovely pregnancy constipation! two birds n all that!

i'm not sure I've ever tried eating just dates on their own - I think they look a bit like cockroaches and that has always put me off trying.

meditrina, you should add a post along the lines of the thread you were expecting - might be funny? :-)

thanks again, I'll keep pondering for now

I personally didn't find It made a difference with pooing (now that's a sentence I never expected to write!), but with that & drinking raspberry Leaf tea it made me feel like I was doing something that would get my body ready for when labour started (neither will trigger labour) & as my son was 13 days late I needed something to focus on!