Raspberry Leaf Tea

[Celticlassie]

Anyone tried this? Apparently it can help with contractions, but I've also read it may make labour go too fast... plus, I'm not really a believer in alternative medicine so not sure if I'd just be wasting my time.

[DramaAlpaca]

I guzzled gallons of the stuff in the last few weeks of my first pregnancy. It tasted disgusting and I'm sure it didn't do a thing as I had a very long labour. I didn't bother next time.

[Babykoala1]

I drank a shit load of this throughout the latter stage of my pregnancy. I was induced but did have a freakishly short labour for a first time mum. I still think it's bollocks but it gave me something to do as the end of pregnancy was extremely boring. The equivalent of having a glass of wine after work was drinking a cup of raspberry whilst watching one born every minute..

[PineapplePunch]

I drank a cup a day at 35 weeks, 2 cups a day the next. Had baby at 37 weeks with 2 hour labour! Not sure if linked.

[DontBuyANewMumCashmere]

I took Raspberry Leaf capsules from about week 36 and it did fuck all tbh, DD came 13 days late!

[Sweets101]

The only one I drank it with was 10 days over due (longest by a mile) and labour took over 12 hours!

[Sweets101]

The equivalent of having a glass of wine after work was drinking a cup of raspberry whilst watching one born every minute..

Yup, whilst bouncing on a gym ball. 'Call the midwife' on a Sunday. Good times

[iamapixiebutnotaniceone]

I have used it with all three of my pregnancies and my labours were;
1st just under 4 hours
2nd 45 mins
3rd 15 mins

I'm a bit scared to take it again this time incase I have an even shorter labour!

[Sparrowlegs248]

I drank it several times a day in the last few weeks. Had to have waters broken at 8 days over, that happened at 1.30pm ish. Ds born 9am next day.

[HandbagFan]

Drank gallons of the stuff. Baby never engaged and I never went into labour despite three days of induction. EMCS at 42+1. Tasted lovely though!

[annlee3817]

I drank loads, but mainly because I liked the taste, think I was having approx four cups a day from 37 weeks, went into labour at 40+5 and was in labour for just over five hours including two hours of pushing. I doubt it was the tea though

[soundsystem]

I drank loads and had two short, easy labours. No way I say if it's connected, though!

[soundsystem]

pixie 15 mins?! Eek! Was it ok, or a bit terrifying (if you don't mind me asking)?

My first was 4 hours and my second less than an hour, like yours, and I sort of thought that was as fast as it could get!

[CaveMum]

I took the capsules (from Holland & Barrett) from 36 weeks on.

DD was 6 days late but labour was just under 10 hours from first contraction to delivery.

I'm due DC2 in 8 weeks time and plan to take it again so will report back on length of labour after that one!

[Tigresswoods]

Ha! I bought some from Holland & Barrett 2 days before my due date. Had one pot of the stuff & had a show within an hour. Baby born 26h later.

I'm pretty sure it was pure coincidence.

[RedCrab]

I don't think its suppsoed to bring on labour so expecting not to go over is misleading. It's supposed to help the uterus with contractions - so more efficient contractions therefore shorter labour?

Who knows if it works. Anecdotally it seems to be a mixed bag. My own anecdote is not having any for my first and having a 40 hour labour. Versus absolutely caning the tablets with my second and having a six hour labour. Currently taking the tablets twice a day with my third so will let you know!

[gamerchick]

It's supposed to give a shorter pushing stage.

[ElectricMelon]

I went into labour after two days of constantly drinking the stuff. Dd came 8 days early and I was only in labour 2 hours.

I did get cramps after every cup which was odd but I do still think it was just a coincidence.

Apparently it's meant to strengthen your uterus and you're meant to drink it for a few weeks to feel any benefits.

[CommaStop]

I think it also depends on what you're drinking. Most of the raspberry leaf tea bags if you check the ingredients are only about 35% raspberry leaf. My midwife recommended pure raspberry leaf tea, which incidentally tastes nothing like the two brands of bagged stuff I tried last pregnancy, which is actual tea leaves bought in a very right on herbal type shop so I make a pot of it going to bed to stew overnight and then drink that across the day the following day. My understanding is not that it brings on labour but that it makes contractions more efficient so you dilate faster. Last time round I went in with contractions 4 minutes apart lasting a minute a pop and very intense after hours labouring at home to be told I was not so much as a centimetre dilated so here's hoping.

[Happilymarried155]

I used it twice. Both quick labours, 3 hours the first time and 53 minutes the second time. No harm in giving it a try x

[Wheresthecoff33]

Rlt tones the uterus over a period of weeks which has the potential to make contractions more effective, it's also been said to aid in your uterus returning to normal size after birth :) dc1 was a 40 hours labour, no Rlt, with dc2 and dc3 I drank Rlt from around 33 or 34 weeks and had a 4 and 2 hour labour. In my experience, it did help, plus it tastes great