Dates and Due Dates
Every Cha Cha Mamma has a different idea of what she wants her birthing experience to look like, but we also know full well that things don’t always go the way we had hoped...and that is totally okay. Your birthing plan is completely personal to you and to your babba, but one part of your birthing plan that we will guess, is that that you probably don’t want to be induced. Interestingly enough, the majority of expecting mammas do not include an induction in their birthing plans, yet it is one if the most common procedures done by obstetricians in the United States. About 24% of women are induced during labor. If you do not want to be induced, and you end up having to be, just remember 3 things: you are not the only one, it is all for the safety of yourself and your baby, and is only temporary.
That being said, here at Cha Cha Mamma, we are all about the nitty gritty, super specific, research-based tips. This piece of advice definitely fits the mold! We pride ourselves in not being another boring pregnancy website that basically tells you everything you already know. Listen to this... if you are in your final month of pregnancy, consider eating about 6 dates a day. It may help your labor be just that much smoother.
At this point in your pregnancy, you are probably starting to think more seriously about labor. While you are mentally preparing (incredibly important), chances are, your body is starting to work it’s magic too. During this time you will likely experience a series of hormonal changes that begin to ripen your cervix and prepare it for the big day. The softer your cervix is before the onset of labor, the easier it is for it to open up and deliver that precious babba. When a woman's cervix is being evaluated, she gets something called a Bishop score. This is basically a scale of how soft her cervix is. You want to aim for a score of 8 or more, which indicates a beautifully ripe cervix (Go you!).
If that sounds good to you, then consider adding a handful of dates to your daily menu while you wait out that last month. We know this may sound odd, but there is significant scientific research that suggests that women who eat about 6 dates a day during the last month of pregnancy have higher Bishop scores (close to 8) when they were admitted to the hospital, as compared to a group of women who did not consume any dates during that time (score of about 5).
Despite the magical benefits to your cervix as it prepares to bring a human into this world, dates are also filled with gorgeous vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants
Tips on how to get your dates in!
We know that six dates may seem like a lot, but here are some very Cha Cha ways to incorporate them into your diet:
The easiest way to get all 6 in is to try to eat about 2 dates per meal. They can serve as delicious little desserts, or even pretty little garnishes to truly any dish.
You can also enjoy about two dates between meals as a snack. Throw on some peanut butter, maybe a sprinkle of cinnamon and hemp seeds for some added love, and call it a day.
Add a couple in your smoothie, in your oatmeal, in your salads, or even throw them in your freezer and enjoy them as a frozen treat.
Keep in mind that you really do not need more than 6.
There are so many ways to enjoy these precious little gems, and it’s nice to know that they may help you deliver your precious little gem a little bit easier.
We really love these low-risk, research based facts, but please remember to always consult your doctor and/or prenatal nutritionist before taking any sort of action regarding yourself and your baby.
*The information from this post is based on a study called “The Effect of Late Pregnancy Consumption of Date Fruit on Cervical Ripening in Nulliparous Women”, published by the Journal of Midwifery & Reproductive Health.
