The fruit of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) grows in tropical and subtropical areas with the Middle East and North Africa producing the greatest number of dates. However, they are also found in Indonesia, Australia, as well as desert areas of California, Nevada, and Arizona in the United States. There are at least 14 varieties of date fruits and are considered a staple of the diet in several cultures. Dates are known for their high nutritional value. Dates contain vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, carbohydrates and sugars, protein, dietary fiber, and more. The date fruit contains antioxidants, lipid-lowering agents, serotonins, tannins, and substances that promote liver health.

Dates contain folate (Vitamin B9), riboflavin (Vitamin B2), biotin (Vitamin B7), thiamin (Vitamin B1), commonly known as part of the B-complex vitamins, and ascorbic acid or Vitamin C. They also contain Vitamin K. Dates contain various minerals, such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, and iron. In addition, studies have shown that eating dates along with taking iron supplements raises hemoglobin levels more than taking iron alone. So simply as a fruit they are rich in nutrients.

Many studies have explored the benefits of date consumption during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Eating dates in early pregnancy may be beneficial, as the high fiber content may aid normal bowel function. There are some cautions to be aware of when eating dates which include allergic reactions, because of the sulfite content in dates. People with diabetes of any form, either gestational, or preexisting, should consult with their healthcare team prior to adding dates to their diet. Date fruit is a significant source of dietary sugar, fructose and glucose, so its use needs to be part of a nutritional plan to avoid high blood sugar levels. Though there is some evidence that carefully added date fruit can help to stabilize blood sugar levels if added to a diet plan under the guidance of the healthcare team.

It appears that the most consistent dosing of date fruit is 6-7 pieces per day starting at 36 weeks gestation for prenatal use. A study conducted in Indonesia with women at risk for preeclampsia, showed that the mean arterial pressure was significantly lower in women that ate 7 dates a day. This lower pressure was thought to be due to the high content of potassium, magnesium, and flavonoid within date fruit. So, there is potential benefit for those at risk for preeclampsia. Yet more research on this topic needs to be undertaken.

Prenatal consumption of 6-7 dates starting a month before the due date has benefits for labor including higher Bishop scores, less need for induction of labor with slightly shorter gestation period, and greater cervical dilation on admission to the birth location. There is at least one randomized controlled trial that shows that the membranes are less likely to rupture prior to labor onset. A systematic review and meta-analysis showed shorter length of early labor by an average of approximately 3.5 hours and a shorter length of active labor by an average of approximately 1.3 hours in pregnant people that ate dates in late pregnancy. There was no significant difference in the lengths of second and third stage labor. The fatty acids that are contained in date fruit are thought to aid in the production of prostaglandins, which contributes to cervical ripening, while potassium and magnesium are thought to promote uterine contractions. Both mechanisms, increased prostaglandin production and increased uterine contractions, will in turn promote labor progression. Mode of birth across the studies was inconsistent, but one systematic review found a significant increase in spontaneous vaginal birth in women that ate date fruit in late pregnancy.

Likewise, eating dates during labor provides energy owing to the high carbohydrate content of dates. The dosing quantity that has been studied was 6 dates when admitted into the birthing unit. Like eating dates prenatally, a systematic review and meta-analysis determined that eating dates during labor also shortened the length of the active phase, shortened the total length of first stage labor and shortened second-stage labor, as well. Again, the mechanism of action is thought to be the presence of fatty acids, potassium, and magnesium within the dates.

The postpartum benefits of eating date palm fruit include decreased lochia and increased milk production have been studied. For postpartum consumption, the dosing was 10 dates or 100 grams within one hour after birth. This dosing was shown to significantly decrease the occurrence of postpartum hemorrhage. Studies looking at breast milk production postpartum used various dosing regimens, of 8, 10, and 30 dates consumed per day. Overall, the pooled results showed a significant increase in milk production over birthers with standard care who did not eat dates postpartum.

Studies of date consumption also looked at newborn outcomes, including APGAR scores, birthweight, weight gain after birth, admission to neonatal intensive care units, and meconium or blood stained amniotic fluid. When compared with non-consumers, infants of birthers who ate date fruit during pregnancy or labor did not show any significant differences in any of these outcomes. The findings of these studies are that there are no direct benefits or harms to the infants.

Implications for childbirth classes include talking about date intake during antenatal nutrition sessions or spiraling content through the topics of antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum care. These discussions should include benefits for each part of pregnancy and childbirth, as well as risks of allergic reactions and increased blood sugar levels with gestational or preexisting diabetes. Likewise, lessons for childbirth class participants should include the dosing methods that have been studied and are known to be safe.

References

Al-Kuran, O., Al-Mehaisen, L., Bawadi, H., Beitawi, S., & Amarin, Z. (2011). The effect of late pregnancy consumption of date fruit on labour and delivery. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 31(1), 29-31. https://doi.org/10.3109/01443615.2010.522267

Bagherzadeh Karimi, A., Elmi, A., Mirghafourvand, M. & Baghervand Navid, R. (2020). Effects of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on labor and delivery outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 20, 210. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-02915-x

Kharizmatika, Soediono, M. R. (2026). The effect of date fruit consumption on delivery outcomes: A systematic review. Majalah Obstetrics and Ginekologi (Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Science), 34(1), 61-69. https://doi.org/10.20473/mog.v34i12026.61-69

McGee, A. J.,  Malam, N., & Spencer, E. (2025). Does eating dates decrease duration of the first stage of labor? Evidence-based Practice, 28(6), 22-23. https://doi.org/10.1097/ebp.0000000000002380

Murray, B., & Parsh, B. (2023). Date fruit consumption for childbirth. Nursing, 53(2), 10-11. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nurse.0000905688.20852.49

Royani, I., As’ad, S., Mappaware, N. A., Hatta, M., & Rabia (2019). Effect of Ajwa date consumption to inhibit the progression of preeclampsia threats on mean arterial pressure and roll-over test. BioMed Research International, 2019, 2917895, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/2917895

Salajegheh, Z., Nasiri, M., Imanipour, M, Zamanifard, M., Sadeghi, O. et al. (2024). Is oral consumption of dates (Phoenix dactylifera L. fruit) in the peripartum period effective and safe integrative care to facilitate childbirth and improve perinatal outcomes: A comprehensive revised systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 24, 12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-06196-y

Published: June 29, 2026

Tags