May help with labor. For women, dates have long been believed to help induce labor. They might also help shorten labor for pregnant women. In 2013, one study involving 200 pregnant women showed that eating dates help soften the cervix before delivery. According to another similar study, pregnant women who ate 6 dates a day 4 weeks before their due date experienced a shorter first stage of labor, and their cervix was much softer before delivery. Moreover, the women who ate dates were 20% more likely to go into natural labor than those who didn't. What is more, dates might boost the oxytocin effect, helping the uterus contract and inducing labor. Dates are still being studied to see how they can help ease long labors for pregnant women. And while more research is needed, the results we have so far look promising for women in their last month of pregnancy.
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