Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Flip

Original poster

Raspberry Leaf Tea - Did it work for you?

17 replies

k4mi · 14/12/2011 16:30

Just wondering what people's thoughts and expeiences are and how much i should be drinking / from when / which type (loose or the t bags or tablets?)!

Thx

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

mosschops30 · 14/12/2011 16:32

No it didnt, i was induced with both ds1 and ds2.

(oh and i tried pineapple, curry, walking, nipple tweaking, sex, sweeps)

GwendolineMaryLacedwithBrandy · 14/12/2011 16:36

Lurking with interest as I've just bought some tea bags today but no idea what they're supposed to do. I hate fruit teas.

nailak · 14/12/2011 16:39

yes i was drinking about 4 cups a day, and in labour, it definitely worked for me. i normally hate fruity herbal teas but this was quite nice, like hot blackcurrant squash.

pixie04 · 14/12/2011 16:58

I've been drinking raspberry leaf tea since about 32 weeks, recommended by midwife start one cup a day until 34 - 36 weeks then two a day until 38 weeks then up to four a day. I'm still pregnant so don't know if it helps to bring on labour. I've heard it's great to help bring your milk in (I have the worlds leakiest boobs now! Mainly the left though ) and helps you have a more effective labour by toning your womb. That could also be true as I've had almost constant braxton hicks from 36/37 weeks. That said I have nothing to compare it with, no previous pregnancies carried this far so not done without it IYSWIM.

xxhunnyxx · 14/12/2011 17:15

I drank it from about 3 weeks before due date.
But did it work? Well I went in to a natural labour pretty much on my due date and had a straight forward text book birth, no stitches etc.
But, the question is...would that have happened if I hadn't have drank the tea? Nobody will ever know.
You'd might as well try it, nothing to lose by drinking it. To me it tasted quite nice at first but after about a dozen cups I soon got bored of it, but it's not unpleasant.

Carlitawantsabauble · 14/12/2011 17:19

Agree with hunny, nothing to lose! I'm starting it this week (26) increasing amounts through remainder of pregnancy. It is thought to tone your uterus (not bring on labour, that is an old wives' tale) my mum used it right the way through both pregnancies and had dream like labours so said she'd recommend it just in case it was that which made the difference!

WoTmania · 14/12/2011 19:54

Raspberry leaf tea doesn't help bring on labour. It is a uterine toner. It helps with contractions and efficient contractions. www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/labourandbirth/planningyourbabysbirth/raspberryteaeaselabourexpert/

JiltedJohnsJulie · 14/12/2011 20:01

Yes it really did, the MW asked me if I had been drinking it after first examining me so it must have had a good effect. DD was born in less than 5 hours.

Like WoTmania says, there is a very common misconception that it will induce labour. It won't but it should make your birth easier .

GwendolineMaryLacedwithBrandy · 14/12/2011 20:04

Well I've just tried some and it's revolting. Smells lovely but tastes of tree bark. Where do you get the tablets from?

BroomBuBuBum · 14/12/2011 20:04

I drank it from about 35 weeks I think. Went into labor on my due date. Didn't help with the birth though. But I'm definitely with the you've got nothing to lose crowd so may as well give it a go.

mewkins · 14/12/2011 20:06

sadly not. I drank several cups a day for weeks. I was 2 weeks overdue in the end and had a emcs after three days of painful but non-effective contractions. I did quite like the taste of it in the end though!!

JiltedJohnsJulie · 14/12/2011 20:07

Gwendoline I didn't like it at first, had to drink it with honey but did get used to the taste in the end and even began to like it.

I think most health food shops sell the tablet form.

PatTheHammer · 14/12/2011 20:14

Not a very scientific study but I drank loads for about 4 weeks before delivery with DD and had a very straightforward labour with quick pushing stage.

With DS on the other hand I did not drink a drop, had a much faster labour and did about 2 pushes.

I would hazard a guess that based on my evidence it doesn't really do anything, however its one of those things that can offer a nice distraction in the final weeks. Also its better for you than caffeinated drinks.

BrookeDavis · 14/12/2011 20:18

I had the tablet form as I hate tea. Very fast and efficient labour, got to 5 cms without even knowing I was in labour. just over 2 hours 'established labour'.

But will never know if it would always have been like that!

scentednappyhag · 14/12/2011 20:21

I drank about 6 cups a day from 36 weeks, and when DD was born at 38 weeks, it only took 5 pushes to get her out. Again, it may have happened like that anyway, but I'd definitely drink it again next time- can't hurt also I quite liked the taste of it.

ZhenTheHallsWithBoughsOfHolly · 14/12/2011 20:24

I drank the tea one cup a day from 32 weeks, two from 34 and 4 from 38. Went into labour at 39+2 had contractions every two minutes from early labour and it took 6 hours to get from 3cm to 10cm dilated. Boy those contractions were strong! Ended up with EMCS as DD got her big head stuck, but had quick recovery and didn't bleed for a long time.

Original poster

k4mi · 14/12/2011 21:25

Well even if it doesn't work it sounds like the majority of you had quick (ish) labours!

I know it doesn't bring on labour and am definitely only using as a uterine toning method. I like the taste (lucky i know) so will up my dose to two a day until next week and then gradually increase! Who knows if it works but like you say a good distraction and i am pretty bored of plain old water so makes a change!

OP posts:

Flip