Hoping for a VBAC - can I use Rasb leaf & caulophyllum?

[kitstwins]

Firstly please no comments on the efficacy of homeopathic remedies, etc. and how I'd be better off taking snake oil, etc, etc.

I just wanted to ask about whether I can take raspberry leaf and caulophyllum if I'm aiming for a VBAC. Are they safe to use in VBACing patients given the (small) risk of scar rupture? I don't know whether they would put greater strain on a previously sectioned/scarred uterus.

Would welcome any advice.

raspberry leaf won't help you go into labour if that is what you are hoping, it simply (if anything) helps the uterus to be more effective ctx when they do happen.

Caulophyllum can cause intense ctx and fast labour so to be perfectly honest if you were my client I would suggest you don't use either.

As someone who has witnessed scar rupture I wouldn't want to suggest anything that puts undue pressure on previous scar, however small.

Sorry if thats not what you wnated to hear, Hope all goes well for you. :)

Not a professional but I took raspberry leaf tea before I vbac ds2.

I started labour 'on my own' both times, but I would do anything to assist natural birth second time around.

I tried raspberry leaf tea and a homeopathic kit in my first labour and didn't dilate beyond 4cm.I had an EMCS.
In my 2nd labour I didn't bother with the homeopathic kit cos of the scar rupture risk.
I did use the raspberry leaf capsules and tea again in case I managed to have a Vbac but I had another c section as I still didn't dilate.
I would be cautious tbh.

I don't know anything about vbacs so this probably isn't very helpful but I drank 3 cups of raspberry leaf tea a day from 36 weeks and my labour was under 4 hours! Theres no way of knowing if I would have been fast anyway and I know people who say it did nothing for them but if your mw says its ok its got to be worth a try

Hi
Just my opinion but friends of mine who have had VBACs and taken raspberry leaf tea have had cramping etc. I personally do not think it is a good idea to take it because why not let nature do it's thing? If you have previous scar and then have abdominal pain after taking raspberry leaf tea, professionals may go down the wrong route. I am not speaking professionally here - I just am not a fan of raspberry leaf tea.

I've had friends swear by RLT for shorter labours, but I find it quite frustrating when instead of praising their own, amazing bodies, they attribute their 'easier' labours to the tea!!

Herbs for the Childbearing Year by Susan Weed is a good book to read though

Okay this is actually really helpful. I was hoping to use them to give me more effective contractions but I was aware of the question mark over whether this is a good idea with a vbac. It would seem not and that's good to know. I'll just have to write it out of my childbirth scenario.

I sometimes think that in a parallel universe there is another 'me' with a totally difference experience of childbirth. Or even an experience full stop. I'm frustrated by my GA emergency/highly medicalised/hideous caesarean means that so much is closed to me. There's already limitations to this birth before I've even tried it.

I've never and will never get to take a single, f*cking raspberry leaf tablet. I don't know what that frustrates me but it does. Maybe it's a metaphor for the zero control I had over my twins 'birth' last time and what looks set to be a similar scenario this time.

Thanks for the posts. Good to have knowledge even if it's not particularly what I wanted to hear.