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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Dates and Labour

19 replies

TwinkleStars15 · 03/06/2017 21:34

So my midwife told me about a relatively new study about eating dates and the effect it has on labour - does anyone know is there is a specific type of date or just any? I've looked at the study; it reduced the length of labour, reduced the need for an induction and softened the cervix....so worth a try!

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someblondegirl · 03/06/2017 21:41

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/21280989/

Hopefully the link will work. This was something I was sent. Hope it helps

Maiz7654 · 03/06/2017 21:52

My midwife told me this. Said she gets all her ladies to eat dates from 36 weeks (6 dates a day - just regular ones from a supermarket) and only one person on her case load over the last year went over 41 weeks - and she didn't like dates ha ha.

I started them at 36 weeks and went into labour at 38+5. My little girl is 5 weeks old now.

Wonderflonium · 03/06/2017 21:55

Holy shit, I could have done with this information five months ago! This is amazing.

RogerLimasOldestDreadlock · 03/06/2017 22:05

Ooh, this is interesting!

So that study goes on to say that their findings warrant a randomised controlled trial, which they then did: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/28286995/?i=2&from=/21280989/related

And they found that there wasn't a significant effect on the onset of labour (so it didn't effect when people went into labour) but did significantly reduce the need for augmentation of labour with oxytocin.

Which is pretty cool anyway!

(Yeah Science!)

RogerLimasOldestDreadlock · 03/06/2017 22:05

I want to know WHY and HOW! What is it about dates?

(Although all this is a bit late for me)

Original poster

TwinkleStars15 · 03/06/2017 22:10

Thanks ladies! I don't like them but I'm going to chuck them down my throat! Pretty cool that eating 6 dates a day can help so much... I'm 36+2 so starting tomorrow

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CaptainWarbeck · 04/06/2017 00:57

I'm off out to buy dates! I like them too. Maybe a sticky date pudding is in order

McBaby · 04/06/2017 07:08

Ate them almost every day of last pregnancy and lots towards the end (the also help with constipation)!

Dd3 was born at 40+9 and labour was longer than the previous 2. So not sure they made any difference at all.

CherriesInTheSnow · 04/06/2017 07:20

Yes I ate dates with my first and attribute my pretty much on time and intervention free labour. They're really good!

Apparently they work because they encourage oxytocin production in some way :)

I actually started eating them fairly early, about 6 months along, and also drank RLT. I'll also be taking evening primrose oil from the 3rd trimester and using in in triplicate - orally, directly to the cervix and as the oil I use for perineum massage.

Those are the 3 things I've found online that are supposed to help labour along rather than just trigger it or make it start early :)

mistermagpie · 04/06/2017 08:50

I did it from about 32 weeks both pregnancies. Ate six dates a day (just regular dates from the supermarket). First pregnancy DS was born at 38+3, spontaneous labour lasting about three hours. Second pregnancy DS was born at 39 weeks exactly, went into labour following a sweep (I was going to be induced for reduced movement but went into labour myself) and labour lasted less than two hours. Both times just gas & air, second labour especially was lovely and really manageable.

I will never know what the dates did, if anything, because I also did a bunch of other things (RLT, evening primrose oil etc) but I would definitely eat them in the unlikely event of another pregnancy.

I liked dates at first but fucking hate them now, unless I have another baby I will never eat another date!!

CherriesInTheSnow · 04/06/2017 20:05

Same mistermagpie I ate loads while pregnant and vowed never to touch them again! This time and finding it a bit harder to stomagh them :(

Do you mind me asking what other food or supplements etc you took to help prepare for labour? Those labours sound like bliss!!

mistermagpie · 04/06/2017 20:44

I was quite obsessive about going overdue (a good friend of mine had a very sad outcome after going very overdue, which I know is rare but it got in my head) so I did everything! I did the dates from 32 weeks along with raspberry leaf tea a few times a day and then from 38 weeks I took 1000mg evening primrose oil twice a day. I also went on the birthing ball and walked loads.

Both times I had really quick and manageable labours, (although I loved the gas and air!). My second labour was lovely actually, a totally calm and empowering experience. I was very very lucky! I have no idea if all the things I did contributed to me going into labour before 40 weeks both times and having quick births but they didn't do any harm and I would do it all again (which I won't because I'm NOT having another!).

CherriesInTheSnow · 04/06/2017 21:51

Wow thanks magpie, brilliant advice, it's all gone into my labour plan

CherriesInTheSnow · 04/06/2017 21:57

I know that you mean about going overdue too, and sorry to hear about your friend :( it is very nerve racking, especially since I read about how they don't think the placenta lasts much longer than 40 weeks.

My labour last time was straightforward but painful, conrations were painful from the get go - I think I drank too much RLT when it does explicitly say not to do that . It was quite long too, contraction's started at 10am and DD was born at 5:45, so am doing what I can to encourage it along this time :)

Fatty12 · 05/06/2017 10:02

Yhh i had dates near the end - gave birth to dc1 at 38 weeks with no intervention. And I had a relatively easy and fast labour :-) xx

CaptainWarbeck · 05/06/2017 10:36

Vitamin D is also supposed to help with reducing the need for intervention in labour - something to do with being involved in more effective muscle contraction. I can dig out the studies. Seeing as it's recommended for pregnant women anyway I've been taking it in this trimester seeing as it can't hurt!

CaptainWarbeck · 05/06/2017 10:45

Found it - one related to pain in labour: (although low numbers in study)

Our study is the first to demonstrate that lower vitamin D levels are associated with higher intrapartum epidural consumption.

And this about vitamin D levels and c-section rates, although they say they need bigger studies.

CherriesInTheSnow · 05/06/2017 11:22

Wow thank's Captain I've never heard of that before! On the list it goes

hamnarajan · 23/02/2021 11:02

@TwinkleStars15

I can't necessarily answer your question because I haven't gone into labor yet and I can't compare it to my first birth, but I do know that eating dates during pregnancy time provide high quality, sustained energy! Even if you are destined to have a 50 hr labor with 15 hours of pushing...they probably help with energy levels, making it a little easier on your body. If you wanna know more about dates benefits have a look here - www.alfoah.ae/about-dates/

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