Raspberry leaf tea, 39+2days, should I bother....

[Irishclaire]

Just wondering if anyone can shed some light as to whether I am wasting my time. Just discovered raspberry leaf tea to aid labour but seems like you need to start drinking it much earlier for it to have any effect, anyone heard anything different....?

I've read a few different things about when you're supposed to start drinking it. I only really started at 37 weeks. It's not going to hurt to start drinking it now, at any rate.

I have my doubts it does a lot before you are almost ready to go anyway.

MW said I could start any time I like, it's not going to trigger anything prematurely anyway, so started drinking it last weekend, i.e. at 36 weeks, and immetiately noticed the baby becoming more active, as if he knew something was going on. Stopped for two days and he calmed down again.

So why not have a go and see what it does for you

I'm making the trip to Holland and Barrett today for some. I am 38+2 and didn't realise people started drinking it much earlier till I read another thread about it on here last night.

This one.

Apparently the capsules are stronger which is interesting. I'm gonna stick with the tea because I want my LO to come when she is good and ready. I just don't want her camping out in there for an extra two weeks either

i drank it in my final weeks, and it made me physically sick! not saying that it would do the same to you obviously, but just a warning.

I used capsules from 36 weeks with DD and she arrived at 37+1. So I did the same with DS, thinking I'd get another nicely timed arrival and went 4 days overdue.

Am therefore not entirely convinced but as it can't do any harm, you might as well, surely?

Thanks, i've decided to give it a go, don't think it will do any harm, having three cups a day and quite like it. I've also put some in an ice cube tray to suck on, i've been craving cold things, wouldn't be worried if baby came out a few days early just as long as they don't decide they want to stay in there for too long either....

It's not meant to bring on labour anyway, it's supposed to help strengthen your womb so it contracts more efficiently, as I understand it?

Ah okay - well in that case definitely - 4hrs active labour with my first, 2hrs10 with the second so worked a treat!

Haven't had it this time though...