Raspberry leaf tea

[mummyto1girl]

Does this really help bring on labour?

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.

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

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...

What @Pimpernell182 said! I like the tea though 😊

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.

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

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.

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

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

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?!

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.

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!!

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)

Nothing works to induce labour.

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

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.

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

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.

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/

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.

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

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.

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.

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. :)