Can eating dates help induce labor? Not exactly, but it can help prepare your body for birth! There have been several studies showing that eating 4-6 dates daily after 36 weeks can help soften and thin the cervix, and also shorten each stage of labor. This article is a small study that shows the benefits of consuming dates the last four weeks of pregnancy, and its effects on cervical dilation and effacement as well as a shorter 1st stage of labor. I love dates, so eating them plain is just fine for me! You can also serve them topped with a small amount of nut butter and dark chocolate chips…