Dates
Dates are safe during pregnancy, but eating them regularly in late pregnancy (from around 36 weeks) may encourage labour — discuss with your midwife if in doubt.
Dates are safe to eat throughout pregnancy and provide useful nutrition including fibre, potassium, iron, and natural sugars for energy. They also provide folate and a range of B vitamins. The reason for a note of caution is that several studies have suggested eating dates in the final weeks of pregnancy (from around 36 weeks onwards) may help with cervical ripening and reduce the length of labour. Dates contain compounds that mimic the effects of oxytocin — the hormone that triggers uterine contractions — and may also act on oxytocin receptors in the uterus. This is generally considered a potential benefit rather than a risk, and dates are widely recommended by midwives in late pregnancy for this reason. However, for women who are advised to avoid natural labour stimulation — for example, those with placenta praevia, certain high-risk pregnancies, or a planned caesarean — it is sensible to discuss dates with your midwife before eating large amounts in late pregnancy. In the first and second trimester, dates can be eaten freely as part of a balanced diet.
What to be aware of
- Dates are safe in normal amounts throughout pregnancy.
- If you are eating large amounts in late pregnancy (six or more per day as in some studies), it is worth mentioning to your midwife — particularly if you have a high-risk pregnancy.
- Dates are very high in natural sugar — beneficial energy for most, but worth monitoring if managing gestational diabetes.
- Dried dates are much more sugar-dense than fresh dates — portion sizes are smaller.
NHS guidance: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/vitamins-supplements-and-nutrition/