Off topic: Dates (fruit) improve birthing in many ways

Eating Dates Produces Powerful Health Benefits, Religion and Science Agree GreenMedInfo June 2015

Reporting on the 2011 trial

Date intervention for 4 weeks before birth

Dates contain 0 IU of Vitamin D

Original Study: The effect of late pregnancy consumption of date fruit on labour and delivery

2011, Vol. 31, No. 1 , Pages 29-31 (doi:10.3109/01443615.2010.522267)

O. Al-Kuran, L. Al-Mehaisen, H. Bawadi, S. Beitawi, and Z. Amarin

Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan

Correspondence: O. Al-Kuran, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan. E-mail: oqba@yahoo.com

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Subsequent RCT on Benefits of dates on birthing: July 2014 - full text online

The Effect of Late Pregnancy Consumption of Date Fruit on Cervical Ripening in Nulliparous Women

J of Midwifery and Reproductive Health

Article 1, Volume 2, Issue 3, July 2014, Page 150-155

1 Masoumeh Kordi; 2 Fatemeh Aghaei Meybodi ; 3 Fatemeh Tara; 4 Mohsen Nemati; 5 Mohammad Taghi Shakeri

1Lecturer, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

2Graduate, MSc in Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

3Associate Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Health Research Center, school of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

4Associate Professor in Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

5Professor in Biostatistics, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Background and Aim: Cervical ripening before the onset of labor is an important factor for the prediction of delivery mode, and is directly associated with vaginal delivery. The search for a safe, inexpensive, and easy method of cervical ripening is of great significance. Few studies have focused on the effect of date fruit on uterine contractions and cervical ripening. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of late pregnancy consumption of date fruit on cervical ripening in nulliparous women.

Methods: This randomized clinical trial was performed on 210 women with a singleton pregnancy, cephalic presentation, and gestational age of 37-38 weeks. The study was conducted at Omolbanin Hospital, Mashhad, Iran in 2013. The subjects were randomly assigned into two groups of 105 women (experimental and control groups). Since the 37th week of gestation, the experimental group consumed date fruit (70 to 75 gr per day) until the onset of labor pain, and the control group received routine care. Data were collected using demographic questionnaires, fetal movement record form, and the checklist related to daily consumption of date fruit. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 14, and Chi-square, t student, and Mann-Whitney test. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The mean Bishop score at admission was higher in the experimental group (7.67 ± 2.28), compared to the control group (5.12 ± 2.77) (P <0.001). Mean cervical dilatation at admission was 4.05 ± 1.63 cm in the experimental group and 2.97 ± 4.63 cm in the control group (p <0/05). Also the success rate of labor induction was higher in the experimental group compared to the control group (P= 0.006).

Conclusion: Mean cervical dilatation was higher in women consuming date fruit, compared to the non-consuming group. Since date fruit is full of energy and nutrients, it is recommended for pregnant women to help with cervical ripening, particularly in the last weeks of gestation.

THE DATE AND ITS USES AS DESCRIBED IN THE QUR'AN

Dates contain Oxytoxin , sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, sulphur, phosphorus and chlorine, as well as vitamins A, beta-carotene, B1, B2, B3 and B6.