Can I eat figs while pregnant?
Safe Fig
Yes. Fresh and dried figs are safe in every trimester, and NHS pregnancy advice names them as a healthier snack. Moderation applies to the dried kind: drying removes water and leaves the sugar, so a handful of dried figs carries far more of it than the same handful of fresh. Wash fresh figs before eating.
Why it's safe: Fiber and minerals. Safe in moderation.
Figs reach a pregnancy in two forms that behave differently. A fresh fig is a soft, perishable fruit you rinse and eat. A dried fig is a dense, sweet snack that keeps for months in a bag. Both are safe. They answer different questions, and the rating on this page reflects both.
Fresh figs: fibre, and a rinse
NHS guidance for pregnancy is to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables because they provide vitamins, minerals and fibre, and that fibre helps digestion and can help prevent constipation. Figs fit that description. You eat the skin and the seeds, so you get the fibre in the whole fruit.
The only handling rule is the general one. NHS advice is to wash fresh fruit carefully, because soil can carry Toxoplasma, a parasite that can harm an unborn baby. Ripe figs bruise easily, so rinse them gently under running water just before you eat them and pat them dry. A fig that has gone soft and leaky in the bowl or grown a fuzzy patch goes in the bin.
Rinse fresh figs just before eating, then pat them dry. If you eat them with the skin, which most people do, the skin is the part that needs the water.
Dried figs: the same fruit with the water taken out
Drying a fig removes water and keeps the sugar, so each bite is sweeter and denser. NHS 5 A Day guidance counts 2 dried figs as one portion of fruit and puts a portion of dried fruit at around 30g. The same guidance adds two practical notes: dried fruit can be high in sugar and bad for your teeth, and it is best eaten as part of a meal, as a dessert, for example, rather than as a snack between meals.
For most pregnancies that means a couple of dried figs with breakfast or after lunch, and fresh fruit for grazing. NHS pregnancy advice lists ready-to-eat apricots, figs or prunes among its healthier snack ideas, so the dried kind is a fine choice when you want something sweet and fast.
Figs and gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes changes the sugar question from a general one to a measurable one. NHS advice for managing it is to eat regularly, eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, aim for at least five portions a day, and avoid sugary foods, while noting that you do not need a completely sugar-free diet. You will usually test before breakfast and one hour after each meal.
| Fresh figs | Dried figs | |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar per bite | Lower, diluted by water | Concentrated by drying |
| NHS portion | Counts toward 5 A Day like other fresh fruit | 2 dried figs, around 30g |
| With gestational diabetes | Fits most plans as a fruit portion | Eat with a meal and check your one-hour reading |
Your readings settle the question better than a general rule. If a meal that included dried figs pushes your one-hour number above target, bring it up with your diabetes team. The site's gestational diabetes diet guide covers how to build meals around those readings.
Figs and labour
You may read that figs soften the cervix or bring labour on. NHS guidance on induction says there are no proven ways of starting your labour yourself at home, and that there is no evidence for the things people commonly try. Figs are a good fruit for the third trimester for the same reason they are good in the first: fibre, and something sweet that needs no cooking. If your pregnancy runs past your due date, your doctor or midwife will talk you through the options.
Constipation is the more dependable reason to reach for them. If it is already a problem, the constipation relief guide covers fibre, fluids and the next steps if those are not enough.
When stomach pain is not constipation
Constipation is one of the common, harmless causes of stomach pain in pregnancy. NHS guidance lists it among them. More fibre and more water usually settle it within days.
Call your maternity unit the same day if stomach pain is severe or does not go away after you have rested for 30 to 60 minutes, or if it comes with vaginal bleeding or spotting, regular cramping, or fluid leaking from your vagina. Before 37 weeks, regular cramps or tightenings need a call straight away. If you cannot reach the unit, contact 111.
Figs in pregnancy: at a glance
Figs are safe to eat throughout pregnancy, fresh or dried, and NHS pregnancy advice lists ready-to-eat figs among its healthier snack ideas. Fresh figs should be rinsed before eating, because NHS guidance is to wash fresh fruit carefully to remove soil that can carry Toxoplasma. Like other fruit, figs supply fibre, which NHS guidance says helps digestion and can help prevent constipation, a common complaint in pregnancy. Dried figs carry the same fibre with the water removed, which concentrates their sugar: NHS 5 A Day guidance counts 2 dried figs as one portion of fruit, notes that dried fruit can be high in sugar and bad for teeth, and recommends eating it with a meal rather than between meals. With gestational diabetes, NHS advice is to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and avoid sugary foods without going sugar-free, and one-hour readings after meals show how dried figs fit an individual plan. Claims that figs bring on labour have no support: NHS guidance states there are no proven ways of starting labour yourself at home. Stomach pain that is severe, lasts beyond 30 to 60 minutes of rest, or comes with bleeding, regular cramping or leaking fluid needs a same-day call to the maternity unit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are figs safe in pregnancy?
Yes, fresh and dried, in every trimester. NHS pregnancy advice lists ready-to-eat figs among its healthier snack ideas. Wash fresh figs before eating, as you would any fruit, because soil can carry Toxoplasma.
Do figs help with constipation in pregnancy?
They help as part of a diet with more fibre in it. NHS guidance is that the fibre in fruit and vegetables helps digestion and can help prevent constipation. Figs carry that fibre whether fresh or dried. Drink plenty of water as well.
How many dried figs count as a portion?
NHS 5 A Day guidance counts 2 dried figs as one portion of fruit, and a portion of dried fruit is around 30g. The same guidance says dried fruit can be high in sugar and is best eaten with a meal rather than as a snack between meals.
Can I eat figs with gestational diabetes?
Usually, inside the plan your care team gives you. Dried figs pack more sugar into each bite than fresh ones. NHS advice for gestational diabetes is to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and avoid sugary foods, without needing a sugar-free diet. Your one-hour readings after meals show how figs suit you.
Do figs bring on labour?
No good evidence says so. NHS guidance on induction states that there are no proven ways of starting your labour yourself at home. Eat figs because you like them, and talk through any plan for an overdue pregnancy with your doctor or midwife.
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