When should I start incorporating dates into my diet during pregnancy, considering their esteemed reputation for providing numerous health advantages? As I navigate the myriad of dietary recommendations, I find myself pondering the optimal timing for introducing this nutrient-dense fruit into my meals. Is the first trimester, a period of meticulous development, the right moment for such an inclusion? Or should I perhaps wait until the second trimester, when my nutritional needs evolve, to reap the full spectrum of benefits that dates can offer? Moreover, I wonder about the specific advantages that dates may confer during each pregnancy stage. Will they aid in alleviating pregnancy-related digestive discomfort, or are they more beneficial as I approach labor? Given their purported properties in facilitating smoother delivery, when is it most advantageous to begin consuming them? Is there a specific quantity I should aim for, and are there any potential drawbacks to be aware of during this transformative time?