We are quickly approaching the end of this pregnancy. Talk about time speeding by as we count down these final few weeks!
As I’ve mentioned before, we are planning to use the Hypnobirthing approach for our birth. The belief behind this approach is that a woman’s body knows how and when to birth a baby, without additional medical interventions. Under special circ*mstances, or when the need arises, there may be a need for a medical intervention, but in most cases, there isn’t any need at all. Throughout the book and class we took, we discussed different ways to naturally induce labor, before deciding to induce in a hospital setting with Pitocin, releasing membranes, or any other forced intervention. Things such as walking, pitted dates, acupuncture, essential oils, pineapple, raspberry leaf tea, and eating spicy foods were a few of the options. With this in mind, I decided to do a little research and came across this yummy smoothie that can help induce labor.
It is suggested that you drink this smoothie during the last month of pregnancy, and I started drinking it daily at 36.5 weeks. I originally planned on starting it right at 36 weeks, but I was afraid my body might be really on top of it and I would naturally induce myself too soon! With it being busy harvest season for our family, this babe needed to stay inside for as long as possible (without going too far overdue)… I don’t ask for much ;).
I bought most of my ingredients in bulk to last me 2-3 weeks. Our nearest grocery store is 15 miles away, and I really do not have time for weekly runs during harvest.
LABOR INDUCING SMOOTHIE
Ingredients
- 6-8 oz coconut milk
- 2 spoonfuls shredded coconut
- 4 dashes of cinnamon
- 9 pitted dates
- Fresh pineapple (however much you like, I used about 1/2 cup. Make sure you include the core, it has the really good stuff in it!)
- Greek yogurt (this is for smoothie consistency, so it’s to your liking. I used about 1/3 cup)
- Handful of ice
Directions
Throw all ingredients into blender (we love our Ninja!), blend, and enjoy!
Quick tip: I bought a bunch of pineapple and cut it ahead of time. I put it in little Ziploc bags and froze it so it was all ready to go. You also do not need as much ice this way, because your frozen pineapple will thicken the consistency.
P.S. Not all dates come “pitted”. My first smoothie went down the toilet after I nearly broke our Ninja blender attempting to blend the dates with the pits still inside. Do yourself a favor and make sure your dates come pitted. It will save you a bunch of time and a new blade for your blender.
THE RESEARCH
I wouldn’t recommend something to you unless I had something to support the reasoning behind it. I like to know the why and how of things, and I’m sure you do too!
The “labor inducing” formula of this smoothie comes mainly from the pitted dates and pineapple. Jordan University of Science conducted a study from 2007-2008 studying 69 pregnant women who ate 6 dates per day, 4 weeks prior to their due date, and 45 pregnant women who did not eat any dates at all. Spontaneous labor occurred for 96% of the women who consumed the dates, and only 79% of the women who didn’t eat dates. Also, the first stage of labor averaged 6.5 hours shorter in the women who ate the pitted dates, compared to those who did not. Those odds were enough for me to stop thinking of dates as disgusting co*ckroaches and suck it up and eat them!
As for the pineapple. Pineapple contains bromelain (acts like a prostaglandin), which can soften or ripen the cervix. When pineapple is canned, the bromelain is removed or void in a way, so it has to be fresh pineapple. The real tricky thing about using pineapple to induce labor is that you need a LOT of it. Some studies (which aren’t even 100% proven) state that you need almost 7 whole pineapples for it to make a difference. Either way, it is known to tone both the uterus and cervix, making labor a little less difficult. It’s worth adding in for that reason alone, and it adds good flavor too!
FAQs
Best Pregnancy Smoothie Add-In #1: Avocado
Not only do they make your smoothie creamier, they add a ton of nutrition like healthy fats, fiber, vitamin K, vitamin E, and copper—all essential to baby-building. Pro Tip: Scoop out half of an avocado and drop it right into your blender for a perfectly-sized add-in.
Which fruits induce labor? ›
Here's a list of some foods that are purported to get labor going:
- Pineapple. There's nothing quite as sweet as fresh pineapple. ...
- Dates. The fruit of the date palm tree, dates are very nutritious. ...
- Spicy food. ...
- Prego pizza. ...
- Maternity salad. ...
- The “Inducer” pizza. ...
- Eggplant. ...
- Cupcakes.
Natural ways to induce labor
- Get moving. Movement may help start labor. ...
- Have sex. Sex is often recommended for getting labor started. ...
- Try to relax. ...
- Eat something spicy. ...
- Schedule an acupuncture session. ...
- Ask your doctor to strip your membranes.
Best Pregnancy Smoothie Add-In #1: Avocado
Not only do they make your smoothie creamier, they add a ton of nutrition like healthy fats, fiber, vitamin K, vitamin E, and copper—all essential to baby-building. Pro Tip: Scoop out half of an avocado and drop it right into your blender for a perfectly-sized add-in.
Are smoothies good for early pregnancy? ›
Smoothies, loaded with satisfying ingredients, can be a nutritious part of a pregnancy meal plan, either as a small meal on their own or part of a meal or snack.
What fruit opens the cervix? ›
Fresh pineapple has enzymes that can break down proteins. One theory suggests those enzymes might soften the cervix to get labor started.
What can I drink to dilate faster? ›
Here are six potentially labor-inducing foods to consider.
- Red Raspberry Leaf Tea. Whether you sip it ice-cold or steaming hot, a cup of red raspberry leaf tea may help encourage labor. ...
- Pineapple. ...
- Dates. ...
- Spicy Food. ...
- Evening Primrose Oil. ...
- Castor Oil.
There are no proven ways of starting your labour yourself at home. You may have heard that certain things can trigger labour, such hot baths, certain food or drinks, having sex or herbal supplements. But there's no evidence that these work.
What is the foot rub to induce labor? ›
The Kunlun point is located on the foot, in the depression between the ankle and the Achilles tendon. It's used to promote labor, ease labor pain, and reduce obstruction. What to do: Use your thumb to apply light pressure to BL60 and massage the point for a few minutes.
How many squats to induce labor? ›
Stretching the pelvic floor helps your body relax, says Green, who recommends spending up to five minutes a day doing squats once baby is in the head down position. (Don't worry, you don't have to set your stopwatch—you can break up the five minutes into several intervals throughout the day.)
Water. Okay, this one isn't food, but if you're wondering how to get energy while pregnant, making sure to hydrate is one of the best ways. Water is the main component of blood and helps carry key nutrients to your cells, and fatigue is one of the first signs your body is low on fluids.
Can you have raw egg in smoothie while pregnant? ›
Pasteurization and cooking destroy Salmonella bacteria. For this reason, it's important to only eat thoroughly cooked or pasteurized eggs during pregnancy to ensure any bacteria has been killed. You'll also want to avoid: Dishes that contain raw or undercooked eggs (unless those eggs are pasteurized).
What juice is really good for pregnancy? ›
Pomegranate and orange juice are the best juices to drink while pregnant. Pomegranate is rich in folate, which is vital for a healthy pregnancy. Orange juice, especially fortified varieties, offer calcium with vitamin C and a boost of potassium.
Can you have pineapple while pregnant? ›
Pineapple is safe to eat while pregnant. But you may want to limit how much of it you eat. The most common species of pineapple in the US, the Smooth Cayenne, has a high acid content. Heartburn and acid reflux are common when pregnant, and acidic foods can make these problems worse.
Can I have honey while pregnant? ›
Yes, it's safe to eat honey during pregnancy. While it's not safe to give honey to babies under a year old, eating honey when you're pregnant won't harm you or your unborn child. That's because your grown-up stomach can handle the bacteria in honey that sometimes makes babies sick with a rare illness called botulism.
Which dry fruits induce labor? ›
Dates are an excellent choice because they're fiber rich and have other nutrients and vitamins. And if research conclusions are accurate, eating dates while pregnant just might improve your chances for a spontaneous, natural induction.
Can fruit cause contractions? ›
Pineapples are shown to contain bromelain, which can cause the cervix to soften and result in an early labor if eaten in large quantities. Many doctors believe pineapple is safe when eaten in small portions, and the fruit contains many helpful nutrients that could prove beneficial.
Do bananas speed up labor? ›
False. Evidence suggesting some foods, like spicy foods, pineapple and bananas may induce labor, is purely anecdotal. These foods may increase acid reflux – which is a common problem in the later stages of pregnancy – so you may want to avoid them.
Does pineapple really induce labour? ›
Pineapple is thought to work because it contains an enzyme called bromelain, which breaks down proteins in tissue and may soften the cervix or encourage it to loosen. However, there is no concrete scientific evidence to prove that eating pineapples can induce labor.
