A midwife has offered her honest verdict on whether eating pineapple during the third trimester can help kick-start labour and shorten delivery. Angie, known as The Eco Midwife on TikTok, reviewed recent research suggesting potential benefits for expectant mothers who consume the fruit.
Pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme concentrated in the core and flesh, which has been anecdotally linked to cervical ripening. A 2023 study of over 2,400 women in Nigeria found that those who ate pineapple in late pregnancy experienced labour that was about 1.7 hours shorter on average, compared to those who did not. The study also noted higher rates of spontaneous vaginal birth and lower caesarean rates among pineapple consumers.
However, Angie cautioned that the study, though large, was conducted in Nigeria and may not be generalisable. She emphasised that further research is needed to confirm the findings. For now, she suggests that if you enjoy pineapple, consuming it at the end of pregnancy may offer some benefits, but it is not a guaranteed method for inducing labour.
