Date consumption to improve labour?

[Durhamchance]

I've just seen a post on Facebook suggesting that eating dates in the last four weeks of pregnancy can shorten labour and increase cervix dilation? Anyone heard of this?

I've googled it and the results are positive, this was an interesting study:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21280989

Can't hurt to try right?

 

[Nomad]

Ooh I'd forgotten about this! I ate them when I was expecting DD, as well as raspberry leaf tea and evening primrose oil! Call me gullible but I went along with anything that could possibly help ... DD was 11 days early, labour was 10 hours from start to finish and I was only in active labour for 3 hours, so maybe, just maybe it all helped!

 

[Rooster30]

Eww, but I think i'll be willing to give most things a go... except dates. Think i'll grab some Evening Primrose Oil tomorrow.

 

[buttonbear]

Why are they so disgusting?! Haha

Whats evening primrose used for? I know you can insert them near cervix after 37 weeks?!

 

[Durhamchance]

I don't know if I've ever eaten dates? Maybe if I just consume a sticky toffee pudding every day it would work the same?

 

[Emapot1]

Love dates, like rlt, love pinapples. Will try it all x

 

[Rooster30]

I only said eww because I don't like dates - not even in sticky toffee pudding. At least I can taken EPO and Raspberry Zleaf Tea in a tablet form

 

[littlemonkey]

I don't know about helping with labour but they'd certainly sort out any toilet troubles!

 

[LaceyKeo]

Evening Primrose Oil can help soften the cervix to help it be ready for baby.
It can also help soften all that area in general.

I went from nothing, to full-on contraction, to baby arrival in 3:55, on his due date, with nothing more than a small graze (no tearing, no episiotomy, no stitches).

EPO capsules were one of the first things I brought when I found out this one was cooking.

Did it help? Who knows.
Would I risk labour without it? Nopenopenope. Xx

 

[blueeyes34]

I didn't know this about dates but have been eating them anyway as I love them, and as someone else has said they are a good natural way of urm keeping you regular! xx