The Great Date Debate!!

Gators&BoSox

Alright ladies, I thought it would be interesting to see how our results with date consumption match up with the results from the study that had us all wolfing down the little buggers. Feel free to participate if you did not eat them as well

First off, the study concluded that:

• Those who consumed dates had an average 8.5 hours of first stage labor (0-10 cm) while those who didn’t had an average 15.1 hours of first stage labor.

• The women who ate dates were dilated an average of 3.5 cm upon admission, compared to 2 cm in those who didn’t
• 96% of the women who consumed dates went into spontaneous labor and did not have to be induced (compared to only 79% of those who didn’t)
• Only a small percentage of women who consumed dates needed pitocin (28%) vs those who didn’t consume dates (47%)
• A smaller percentage of women who consumed dates had their membranes rupture in early labor compared to those who didn’t (17% vs 40%)

Soooo:

Did you eat dates in preparation for labor?

How many per day?

For how many weeks?

How long was your first stage of labor? (best guess)

How dilated were you upon admission?

Were you induced?

Did you need pit?

Did your water break early on or late in labor?

Gators&BoSox

these nasty little cockroach fruit did me wrong! lol

Did you eat dates in preparation for labor? yes

How many per day? 6-8

For how many weeks? 5

How long was your first stage of labor? (best guess) 16.5 hrs

How dilated were you upon admission? 1cm

Were you induced? no

Did you need pit? yes

Did your water break early on or late in labor? early stage

disneybaby84

Ate 6 dates a day starting 36 weeks exactly 
Water broke 1:30 am on day of 39 weeks
Whole labor was 33 hours
No dilation
Not induced
Needed pit at pushing stage because I didn't feel the need to push
Water broke before anything happened 

wintersong

Yes
6 or more
3 weeks
5 hours until transition, 6 and 3\4 hours total
3 cm 80% effaced
Yes induced, with Pitocin
ARM by midwife at 5hrs in

Spartanrd4

Did you eat dates in preparation for labor? Yes

How many per day? 6

For how many weeks? 3 weeks

How long was your first stage of labor? (best guess) 18 hours

How dilated were you upon admission? 2 cm

Were you induced? No

Did you need pit? Yes to speed things up because my water had been broken for 12 hours and I only dilated to 3 cm on my own

Did your water break early on or late in labor? Water broke early 

kjd291

Did you eat dates in preparation for labor? Yep!

How many per day? 6-8

For how many weeks? 5 weeks

How long was your first stage of labor? (best guess)   1hour

How dilated were you upon admission? 3cm

Were you induced? Yes

Did you need pit? Yes  

Did your water break early on or late in labor? I requested it be broken by MW to get things going more naturally 

KellyT22

Did you eat dates in preparation for labor? yes

How many per day? 6

For how many weeks? Two weeks (started at 37w)

How long was your first stage of labor? (best guess) maybe 8hrs. Hard to say. Admission to birth was 6.5 hrs. 

How dilated were you upon admission? 4.5cm

Were you induced? No

Did you need pit? I received a tiny bit to try to make my contractions more regular, then it was turned off.

Did your water break early on or late in labor? Late, OB broke it. 

MrsBinPA

Did you eat dates in preparation for labor? Yes

How many per day?  I ate dates on and off my entire pregnancy.  Usually 4-6.

For how many weeks?  they were in my snack rotation the entire pregnancy.  I ate them a few times a week.

How long was your first stage of labor? (best guess)  I had a c section because she was breech so NA

How dilated were you upon admission? Fingertip only

Were you induced? No

Did you need pit? No,  but baby was breech so I wasn't allowed to labor at all.  I was having mild contractions about 8 mins apart when I got to the hospital.

Did your water break early on or late in labor? Early

JustAnotherUsername16

Did you eat dates in preparation for labor? Yes

How many per day? 6

For how many weeks? 4

How long was your first stage of labor? (best guess) Approximately 30 hours

How dilated were you upon admission? 2 cm

Were you induced? Yes

Did you need pit? Yes

Did your water break early on or late in labor? Early

Dates definitely did me wrong!

triwellnessgirl

Since the study compares those who ate dates with those who didn't, I'll share my stats as someone who didn't consume them....

Did you eat dates in preparation for labor? No

How many per day? 0

For how many weeks?  N/A

How long was your first stage of labor? (best guess)  I felt my first contraction at about 11am, they progressed to 40sec each, 5min apart, at 2pm. Continued to labor at home until Hubby forced me to go to the hospital at 11pm (I was in denial) 

How dilated were you upon admission? I was admitted at 1230am at 8cm, in Transition

Were you induced? no

Did you need pit? no

Did your water break early on or late in labor?  I broke my water when I started to push for Baby

kaylaef

I didn't eat dates. I was not induced. I was in active labour for about 8 hrs. I was 6 cms when I was admitted.  they stalled my labour a bit because I was GBS positive. My waters wouldn't break so when  I was 9 cms they broke them, saw meconium and decided to give me a small amount of pitocin. 

nursemama-2

No
0
N/A
4 hrs active 
3 cm 
No induction  
No pitocin
Water broke on own 45 minutes before delivery

Vaginal breech delivery 

npaulie

Did you eat dates in preparation for labor? No

How many per day? 0

For how many weeks?  N/A

How long was your first stage of labor? (best guess)  My water broke at 6:30 am, and then at 9am I began having contractions 50 seconds long, 2.5 min apart. Not really sure what the different stages are, but basically immediately went to the hospital 

How dilated were you upon admission? Admitted at 10am, was 4cm dilated

Were you induced? no

Did you need pit? Yes

Did your water break early on or late in labor?  Water broke in the very beginning. 

JustAnotherUsername16

This thread just confirmed that I'm never eating a date ever again. #boycottdates

Gators&BoSox

@JustAnotherUsername16 yes!! I'm glad I did it just bc I would have always wondered but damn these results are depressing haha

kap1988

Did you eat dates in preparation for labor? No

How many per day? 0

For how many weeks? 0

How long was your first stage of labor? (best guess) I was induced, but I started to have contractions around 2 am and started pushing around 2 pm. So approximately 12 hours?

How dilated were you upon admission? 1 

Were you induced? Yes

Did you need pit? No

Did your water break early on or late in labor? They broke it for me

ShaunaT25

Did you eat dates in preparation for labor? Nope

How many per day? 0

For how many weeks? 0

How long was your first stage of labor? (best guess) total time in labor was 1.5 hrs

How dilated were you upon admission? I was 5cm before my first contraction 

Were you induced? Nop

Did you need pit? Nope

Did your water break early on or late in labor? When I started pushing 

Gators&BoSox

According to these results I think we were better off NOT eating them haha

serenity13

As someone who didn't try dates here are my answers
Nope 
0
0
Hm I guess from the time my water was broken until I was in transition to be about 5 hours.
3 cm & 80% effaced upon admission 
Yes induced
Yes pit
My dr broke my water for me early 

julievdm12

Did you eat dates in preparation for labor? Yep

How many per day? 6

For how many weeks? 34-39 weeks then ran out 

How long was your first stage of labor? (best guess) total time in labor 1 hr

How dilated were you upon admission? I was 5cm and 80% effaced and was admitted to be induced by having my water broken

Were you induced? yes via breaking of water 

Did you need pit? Nope

Did your water break early on or late in labor? Midwife broke it to start labour