Raspberry tea for birth

[moonmaker93]

Anyone else drank raspberry tea before birth, and if so did you find it helped at all? Good to hear any midwives’ opinions too.

I was planning on having one tea per day from 35 weeks.

A baby born at 35 weeks may need special care. 65% of babies born at 35 weeks go to NICU.

Although there’s no conclusive evidence it works, you would (I presume) feel awful if, after drinking the tea at 35 weeks, your baby arrived early and ended up needing special care.

I had two a day from around 35 weeks and my labour was under an hour, from what I read, it doesn't make the baby want to arrive any sooner, but makes the labour quicker. That's definitely true for me, baby was 9 days late but my labour compared with my first pregnancy when I didn't drink the tea was so much faster. Who knows though, that might have been the case even if I didn't drink it!

I did and it made no difference whatsoever, I was induced, forceps delivery & episiotomy

@NotHavingAFunTimeI’m not intending to try and induce labour. My understanding is it just helps soften the cervix for an easier delivery? Still, this is why I’m asking - wanting to get peoples’ opinions in case anyone has found that it does have an induction effect, as yes that’s not what I want at all.

@LeopardsANeutralthat’s interesting! Yes, definitely not wanting to induce - had read that what it does is soften cervix etc for an easier delivery. Glad you had a nicer/easier labour. ☺️

@Mrsttcno1oh no! Really sorry to hear that. When did you start drinking it and how much?

I had it from 34 weeks with both my pregnancies and went to 40+5 and 41+2, did not make either baby come early.
My first was a long labour but ultimately straightforward delivery, 2nd baby was 2.5 hours start to finish.

I drank it in both of my pregnancies and my labours were 7 hours and then 4 hours. But I have nothing to compare to because I’ve never had a pregnancy and birth without drinking RLT- and my Mum’s labours were fairly quick so that is perhaps a factor.

But if I were to be pregnant again, I would drink it again. I would also do perineal massage again which I did in pregnancy and although I had some minor tears, I didn’t need any stitches.

@Nursemumma92oh wow! Second was eager weren’t they. 😂 Lovely, thank you.

@Waitingfordoggoah yes, so could be a genetic factor. Interesting! Yes, I think I’ll definitely be giving perineal massage a go from about 34 weeks. Anything to try 🙏🏻 to make my life a bit easier haha.

I started at 36 weeks which was what my midwife advised, I had 1 cup a day and then 2 a day for the last couple weeks. Honestly I did allll of the tricks to try for a quicker & easier labour, I ate dates, I ate pineapple, I was on my birthing ball all day, I was active & walking daily, I ate spicy food, I tried nipple stimulation, I went for a 3 mile walk the morning I went in to be induced, but nothing😂

I do think some people are just lucky, one of my friends did none of it, no tea, no dates, no nothing and has had 2 amazing quick & perfect waterbirths.

I didn’t have raspberry leaf tea as following a bit of reading I couldn’t see much impact. Also I’m not really a tea person. I did read that some studies found that that eating dates in late pregnancy reduced the length of labour and the need for intervention in labour. I had 6 dates per day. I had 2 8 hour labours with no intervention or drugs but could easily be a coincidence.

@Mrsttcno1nooo not the 3 mile walk all for nought. 😂 Bless you, it’s Sod’s Law isn’t it!! I would love a water birth if it’s available. I’ll probably try all the tricks anyway, and just wait and see what cards I’m dealt I guess!!

@tealandtealI don’t mind dates so much, so might give them a little try anyway!

Absolutely, I felt hard done by for sure😂 I’ve recently found out I’m pregnant with my second baby and despite the fact it made zero difference the first time I’ll probably do it all again this time because I just think at least I felt like I was doing something to help myself, even if it doesn’t work!

I think the 'evidence' for raspberry leaf tea is anecdotal at best and has no scientific basis - certainly my consultant was very scathing.

But at a time you'll do anything to get things pregressing, what's the harm in a bit of placebo effect? Curry, scary films, exercise, raspberry leaf tea, massage... if it helps you feel you're doing something, have at it.

I started from 34 weeks with my last two babies, the labours were 1000000% better and they flew out like little rockets! Highly recommend!

I'm a midwife....i honestly wouldn't waste your money. The one intervention that has been shown to make a difference though is eating 6 dates a day from 34 weeks. Its been found the reduce the chance of needing an induction for post dates and to shorten the first stage of labour.

I'm a midwife....i honestly wouldn't waste your money. The one intervention that has been shown to make a difference though is eating 6 dates a day from 34 weeks. Its been found the reduce the chance of needing an induction for post dates and to shorten the first stage of labour.

My midwife said to use raspberry leaf extract tablets, from 36 weeks. Not to bother faffing with the tea. I swear they made a real difference. 2 very good labours of 6.5 hrs and 2.5 hrs, 1 day late for the first and 2 wks early for the second. Vaginal deliveries and minimal tearing. I am sure the RL helped!

I drank RLT (made by myself from real leaves!). I had two easy births, no tears.
No idea if it was cause&effect or luck.