Seriously give it a try. I did 3 things differently this pregnancy compared with my other 2. I stayed more active...I ate dates & I built up to drinking 3 cups of Red Raspberry Leaf Tea a day ( started at 30 weeks). I'm not sure which was the most helpful (thinking probably the tea) maybe a combination of the 3, but I had the easiest L&D of all time. Contractions never felt worse than strong period cramps until the last hour and a half of labor. Arrived at the hospital and was at 8cm, and within 45 minutes of arriving baby Tatum was born....after 2 pushes and no tears. I was up walking around 30 minutes after birth. I'm 2 weeks post partum; as of today I'm down to only needing a pantyliner, had no clots and feel great!!! Definitely worth a shot!!!

This is so interesting! I have a date, coconut, chocolate recipe that tastes just like almond joy. When I find it, I will put it on here!

Cool, I'll be looking for your recipe I've been just chopping it and sprinkling it on my salad with chicken and some nuts.. it's so good

Bumping up for Sixel

Dates are waaaaaayyy too sweet for me. o.o But interesting!

And here is the article:

The effect of late pregnancy consumption of date fruit on labour and delivery.
Al-Kuran O, Al-Mehaisen L, Bawadi H, Beitawi S, Amarin Z.
Source
Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. oqba@yahoo.com
Abstract
We set out to investigate the effect of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera) consumption on labor parameters and delivery outcomes. Between 1 February 2007 and 31 January 2008 at Jordan University of Science and Technology, a prospective study was carried out on 69 women who consumed six date fruits per day for 4 weeks prior to their estimated date of delivery, compared with 45 women who consumed none. There was no significant difference in gestational age, age and parity between the two groups. The women who consumed date fruit had significantly higher mean cervical dilatation upon admission compared with the non-date fruit consumers (3.52 cm vs 2.02 cm, p < 0.0005), and a significantly higher proportion of intact membranes (83% vs 60%, p = 0.007). Spontaneous labor occurred in 96% of those who consumed dates, compared with 79% women in the non-date fruit consumers (p = 0.024). Use of prostin/oxytocin was significantly lower in women who consumed dates (28%), compared with the non-date fruit consumers (47%) (p = 0.036). The mean latent phase of the first stage of labor was shorter in women who consumed date fruit compared with the non-date fruit consumers (510 min vs 906 min, p = 0.044). It is concluded that the consumption of date fruit in the last 4 weeks before labor significantly reduced the need for induction and augmentation of labour, and produced a more favorable, but non-significant, delivery outcome. The results warrant a randomized controlled trial.

I ate the dates and had an easy labour and delivery. Total labour approx. 540 mins. Spontaneous onset. Dilation after 420 mins 3cm. Membranes ruptured at 460mins - Delivery 80 mins later, pushed with just two contractions. Pain relief used - paracetamol, TENS and entonox only. Delivered a 8lb 4oz baby.