Raspberry Leaf Tea? Yes or No? Experiances please.

[LaurenCaddy]

I've got myself some Raspberry Leaf Tea, to take from 30 weeks. But i've heard so many mixed reviews. Like when to start taking it and how often ect.

My original thoughts where based on this report on the babycentre website:

Raspberry leaf tea is thought to tone the muscles of your uterus (womb) to help it work better during labour. The idea is not so much to speed up your labour, but to help it to progress at a nice, steady pace. Because raspberry leaf tea takes several weeks to accumulate in your body, it won't work to bring on labour if you are overdue.

www.babycentre.co.uk/x545986/can-raspberry-leaf-tea-help-to-ease-labour#ixzz2GlA71DLv

Has anyone got any thoughts, opinions or reviews on it?

Many Thanks ladies :)

I drank the tea and used capsules from around 34 weeks. DS born at 39+5. 59 minute labour, 'pushing' 2 mins, 2 contractions and he was out...
Will def use again

I didn't use it before about 40w; and then I was drinking 2 cups a day and taking about 3 of the tablets/capsules whatever daily as well, because I was trying to bring on labour, and of course it didn't work.

However, it did a very nice job of toning my uterus, I'm sure - I was induced, and had a long slow start to labour, but stage 2 was only 30 minutes, and the placenta was out the push after DS1 was.

Took it again with DS2 but might as well not have bothered - he was just awkward all round, from being unstable transverse oblique lie, needing ECV, ARM and full induction including drip (didn't have that with DS1) and then he went and got his head stuck in an awkward place and was caught behind the anterior lip so I wasted a lot of time and effort trying to push him out when he was stuck - then he dropped clear when they turned me onto my back and he was out in 2 pushes.

I'd still recommend it, but take the tablets/capsules if you don't like the taste. I quite liked it though.

I took the tablets from 32 weeks.

Went into labour 3 days overdue, 30 hour labour, but only 30 mins pushing stage.

No idea how much influence the tablets had!

I started drinking the tea around 37-38 weeks thinking it wouldn't do any harm. I preferred it cold, so made a jug and put in in fridge to sip throughout the day. It was June so that helped. Ds born on due date. No idea what/if any difference it made but I'll prob drink it with dc2 too

I'be just switched from the tea to the capsules today (the h&b ones). Had them as tea, because I hate swallowing capsules, and dear god they're VILE. I didn't mind the taste of the tea at all, but then its packed with other stuff, rosehips and suchlike. I've sweetened the capsule tea, but it's still one if the most disgusting things I've ever tasted.

Where do you buy the tablets from?

We found ours in Holland and Barrett, bean.

I took the capsules with both DSs, DS1 pushing stage was about 3 minutes, DS2 was less than one minute! Would take again if we have any more, good luck!

I bought mine online through Holland and Barrett. I've heard they can be a bit arsey about it but they shouldn't be able to stop you.

I'm just wondering can I take the tea if I've had a Caesarian in the past?
I'm 37 weeks now and would like to start but also worried about causing stronger, more aggressive contractions.

TIA

Drink it if you like the taste. Otherwise don't bother... :)

I drank it on my first baby and had a smooth, dare I say easy second stage of labour. I always swore it must have been the raspberry leaf tea!! I think it's psychological really

I started drinking it at round 35/36 weeks with mine starting with one cup a day and building up to three so
34w- 1 cup
36w - 2 cup
38w- 3 cups

All my 3 labours have been easy and under 45 mins, no compilations and no tears, weather this is down to the tea I have no idea but I'm 37 weeks with number 4 and drinking it again I'm not taking the risk of not

That's amazing rhubarb.

I'm just worried about scar on uterus from previous section, I don't want to do anything to cause fast & furious contractions.

I drank 2 cups a day from 30 weeks. The first few days it gave me really bad braxton hicks. After that was fine. It only took me 15 mins to push dd out. It was my first so don't know if the tea helped or that was what would of happened anyway iykwim.

Oh yeah labour 8 hours

Foodie I'm not saying it's down to the tea I have precipitous labours and don't contract as I'm dilating, went for a sweep at 41weeks with dd3 and was already in established labour 4cm dilated but no pains, I went to hospital was checked and 5cm contractions started and I went from 5cm to having her in 12 mins!

My sister and mum also both have fast labours all under 1 and a half hours so can't say it down to the tea but I drank it with last 3 and I'm drinking again this time

Drank gallons of the stuff with dc2 and she almost fell out

I took tablets from 36 weeks, from first twinge to baby less than 5 hours at 40 + 13, went from 4cm (I was told) to baby, less than the time it took for midwife to get me pain relief!

I started drinking the tea around 33 weeks and got pretty strong Braxton Hicks after my first cup. By 39 weeks I was drinking loads every day and went into labour at 39+5. From 4cm to delivery of placenta was 6.5 hours and pushing stage about 1hr 20mins. So not an overly fast pushing stage it must be said - however, it was straightforward.

30 weeks tomorrow and I reckon I'll have my first cup then. It is kind of an earthy taste but I got to find it quite comforting. It's meant to be really good for you in general. Oh - the loose leaf tea is stronger than the teabagged variety.

I was induced btw at 42 weeks.

I liked the taste of the tea but I can't take tablets

I got told off by the MW when I mentioned them at 32 wks. She said I would bring on prem labour. I don't think that's true from all my reading about it. Its just to tone your uterus to help a steady labour and 2nd stage. I started the tea at 34 wks and drank it religiously but still went 2 wks over and ended up with EMCS after not progressing so no idea if it would have worked or not. Will be taking the capsules from around 34 wks again and see if they do any good.

Fwiw (I realise this is a year after the fact lol) but with my dd I drank rlt from about 38weeks - dd was born at 39+6 and 4.5 hour (nice and easy) labour...

Interesting that this zombie thread has popped up (love the little zombie pic at the bottom).

I had always thought that raspberry leaf tea was something of an old wives' tale but it seems from all the anecdotal evidence here and elsewhere on the net that I've just hastily read, that there might be something in it.

I had thought it was something that people used to try and induce labour but it seems that it is mainly for toning the uterus so at nearly 33 weeks it's something I ought to be making a decision about now.

Anyone else got any other experiences to share?