Yoga, soothing music, and aromatherapy are just a few of the things experts recommend to help make the labor experience easier for expectant mamas to handle. But if you are preparing to give birth, you probably want to have as many things in your arsenal as possible to help keep the pain to a minimum. And if the help is something you can snack on, it's even better. If you're looking for easy natural ways to help you get through labor, you should know the one thing you should eat during pregnancy to make delivery easier.
This probably won't be a food you always have on hand, and may even be something you often walk past. But if you're pregnant, you may want to stop and pick up a few dates. As Fit Pregnancy mentioned, research has shown that women who ate dates during their pregnancy were less likely to need medication to kick start their labor.
Believe it or not, this tiny little fruit packs a pretty powerful punch. According to Organicfacts.net, dates can help provide relief from constipation, an increase in bone strength, and a boost of energy. And for moms-to-be, there are a few additional bonuses. Dates contain properties similar to oxytocin, including helping to stimulate contractions and dilate your cervix, according to Mama Natural.
If that wasn't enough to make you want to add dates to every meal, they can also help shorten the time you spend in the first stage of labor. According to Babble, women who ate dates during pregnancy spent approximately 8.5 hours in labor, while those who didn't labored for an average of 15 hours.
You don't have to start eating dates from the moment you get a positive pregnancy test to get results. If you are further along in your pregnancy, you can still reap the benefits of adding dates to your diet. According to Mama Natural, women who started eating dates one month before their due date, saw the benefits of a smoother labor.
Although dates are a great natural way to help you get through labor, you should snack carefully. As Mama Natural mentioned, dates are high in sugar. If you want to test the benefits of this super fruit, check with your doctor on the best ways to incorporate dates into your prenatal diet.
