Raspberry leaf tea

[mummyto1girl]

Does this really help bring on labour?

[FreshStartToday]

I tried it from 37 weeks - I think it carries a warning not to try it before. I gave birth at 38 weeks. Can't prove that there was a link, of course.

[Smellyjo]

I took it from 37 weeks and gave birth at 40+2. Who know whether it was helpful but it tasted nice!

[Pimpernell182]

I was told it strengthens the uterus, and therefore the contractions when they come rather than bringing forward the natural onset. MW said this. Btw you need to drink A LOT of the tea and it isn't the nicest. The capsules are better...

[TobleroneBoo]

What @Pimpernell182 said! I like the tea though 😊

[emvy]

I’ve been taking it since 37 weeks - one cup of loose leaf tea a day and upped that to two at 38 weeks (now 38+6). It doesn’t make it happen earlier, I think it softens the cervix so that dilation happens quicker or the pushing stage is quicker? Something like that, it’s definitely not meant to bring labour forward though. I also don’t dislike the taste so it’s not bothering me having a couple of cups a day! It tastes pretty similar to usual tea to be honest.

[ShackUp]

I drank lots of the stuff and had two quick dilations...

[scaredofthecity]

I drank litres of the stuff and had a fast labour (less than 4 hours, 12 mins pushing)

I'm not risking it this time, I'm petrified about not getting to the hospital! Plus it's pretty vile after a while.

[yellowmellw]

I'm not sure but I drank it from 37 weeks onwards and my baby came at 40+2 and I managed to labour without intervention or epidural just the old gas and air. Pushing stage was 40minutes and straightforward.

I'm pregnant with no2 and will drink it again

[gamerchick]

It’s supposed to give a shorter pushing stage. It does not bring on labour.

[seeingdots]

Not for me. DD was evicted at 40+13 but to be fair it was pretty quick. I suspect it does fuck all but you do try everything you can anyway don't you?!

[laelti]

I quite liked it and drank quite a bit towards the end.
I went 4 days overdue, but dilated quite quickly and had a straightforward labour (was at 8cm when I went into hospital). Impossible to know if the tea had any bearing but I probably would give it a go again.

[Shaunieh95]

I tried this and had no luck, I tried everything, pineapple, curries, clary sage oil and if anything works in the slightest I think it's honestly sex. I was trying to naturally induce as I was booked for induction. In a last attempt we dtd twice the night before my induction and lone behold when I went in the next day I had started to labour myself and don't need any pessary or drip!!

[Shaunieh95]

I must add I was also only 37+5 and was being induced due to problems I was having. Although baby made an appearance himself (they did break my waters once I was in active labour)

[ShowOfHands]

Nothing works to induce labour.

And raspberry leaf is a uterine tonic, taken to make the second/pushing stage more effective.

[MargoLovebutter]

I drank it twice a day from 37 weeks using the proper leaf tea and was finally induced at 40+ 11 days! So, that would be a no for me.

[Dreamingofkfc]

I started it at 32 weeks, increased amount at 34 weeks and had loads of it by the time I went into labour at 39+6, it isn't supposed to bring on labour but strengthen contractions. My contractions were not very strong but did the job. I'm still going to take it this time though

[Cloudwalk]

I used it to strengthen contractions.

I would say it had an effect (they went from every 5mins to every 3-4mins) with me but it wasn't sustainable and didn't 'bring on birth'

TBH it just made it hurt whilst I waited for the rest of my body to get with the game.

[KateFV]

My midwife advised the tea was fine from 32 weeks and was more a prep to labour rather than to encourage.
www.callthemidwives.co.uk/why-use-raspberry-leaf-tea-in-pregnancy/

[harrietm87]

I drank absolutely loads of it (6+ cups a day from around 35/36 weeks). Def didn't help bring on labour - baby was born at 40+12 - but I had an incredibly quick labour - 3 hrs from start to finish - so maybe it helped? It was my first baby so nothing to compare it to, though no one in my family has had such a quick labour so perhaps it made a difference. I really like it anyway - have been drinking it since to help uterus shrink back.

[Ekphrasis]

There is good evidence for date consumption helping to make labour easier too.

[Lauraandbump2]

I gave it a go with my first pregnancy and it had no effect other than making me feel sick? Didn't enjoy the taste one bit.

[RatherBeRiding]

I drank it throughout both pregnancies but this was 20+ years ago and it didn't come with any health warnings. I understood, and still do, that it "conditions" the uterus. I drank it from 16 weeks onwards. First child 10 days early, second 6 days late.

I drank the dried leaf which I bought from a local herbalist. About the equivalent of a dessert spoon in a cup of hot water.

I had 2 incredibly easy labours, no pushing, no stitches. Might be coincidence of course.

[kamama]

I mean I can't scientifically prove anything but I took the raspberry leaf tablets (hated the tea!) every day (and x2 evening primrose oil capsules) from 38 weeks and my son was born within an hour and a half of my waters breaking at 40 +2. :)