Rosehip tea/Raspberry Tea

[kicsr]

I was recently told by a friend not to drink Raspberry or Rosehip tea during pregnancy until after 37 weeks as it can induce labour. Has anyone else heard this wifes tale?
Any truth in it?

[Melly]

Hi Kicsr, yes I heard that when I was pregnant with my dd last year. I drank gallons of raspberry leaf tea to try and get things going when I was due and absolutely nothing happened! There must be something in it though, so I think it is probably sensible to steer clear until after 37 weeks.

[elwar]

Apparently raspberry leaf tea 'tones the uterus', which is why it is suggested as a way of helping to bring labour on, and therefore why it should be avoided in early pregnancy. I drank two boxes of the stuff in the last four weeks of my pregnancy, and DD was still 12 days late!(and I had to be induced!) By that stage you'll try anything to hurry it along though.

[Janus]

Yep, I too was told to avoid it until the last month of preganancy when it is good to help tone your uterus. I too was late and drank loads of it and I did go into labour naturally 4 days overdue, although not sure it was the tea. I went to Neals Yard to buy it and they did say there what it was good for, etc, and I think they said to avoid it until late stages too so I would do if I were you. (Don't know about Rosehip though).

[Esmerelda]

If, like me, you found the taste too vile for words, apparently fresh pineapple contains the same enzyme which is supposed to strengthen your womb muscles.

I ate it a fair bit in the last month of my first pg and for breakfast in the early stages of labour. Had a really easy birth but don't know if that what more luck and genetics than pineapple enzymes! Still, I will certainly be eating it again soon (starting in 5 weeks or so!!)

[honeybunny]

Raspberry Leaf Tea is the culprit, but I too drank buckets of the stuff and popped plenty of raspberry leaf pills, still went 16days late and had to be induced so didn't make any difference to me. I started drinking/taking it from 36weeks. It is also thought to help with painful periods, as it encourages a sloughing off of the lining of the uterus which is why its best avoided in early pregnancy, incase it induces miscarriage. Or so I was told in the health food shop.

[florenceuk]

Is raspberry leaf tea good for anything post-pregnancy - I've got heaps of it in the cupboard and wondered whether to chuck it. And no, it didn't help my labour - I was 10 days overdue and induced.

[honeybunny]

Florenceuk-I'd have thought it would help with the post natal bleeding, I suppose in the sloughing off way that its supposed to assit during periods. Havent been told that officially though, but I'm sure it can't harm. Chucked mine in disgust, as I found it pretty revolting, and figured as it hadn't worked for labour it wasn't much good for me!

[mollipops]

Actually it's supposed to be good for soothing the gastrointentinal tract in both adults and children, so it makes a good "tonic" after a bout of diarrhoea or vomiting, or if nauseous. I've never actually tried it though, so it would depend what it tastes like I guess!

[Max11]

hello, Yank alert here, in Colorado USA. My nutritionist recommended this to me as it tones the uterus. I just passed the first trimester, so I've been drinking it early. I did have ligament stretching, but do not know if this is related or not. Now that I read your comments I am thinking she is a quack, and I will stop ASAP. thanks.

[MrsBadger]

um, Max, you know the people who wanted to know this wanted to know six years ago...

welcome to MN though