Talk to me about raspberry leaf tea!

[miarosemum]

Am 34+1 with dc2, really want to take raspberry leaf tea this time round but wondered what is the correct/most efficient dosage and from what week you should take it. Don't really want to take the tea bags ( as foul!). Would rather try the tablets, any words of advice?

Not recommended until 37 weeks. Then go for capsules or tablets and start with one a day working up to 3 per day if you like. It's supposed to improve strength of contractions but not make labour come on earlier. That was certainly the case for me with dc1, born at 40+13, 48 hour non painful prelabour, 5.5 hours from onset of proper contractions to baby out.

Good luck!

The advice for raspberry leaf varies greatly depending on where you look. I'm 30w + with dc2 and planning to start drinking the tea soon. I will brew from loose organic tea leaves (not the bags). Here's the recipe I'm planning to use. www.hypnobirthingutah.com/how-to-make-red-raspberry-leaf-tea/
Do your own research and decide which approach you feel is best for you.
Good luck with your birth!

Hiya - I bought loose organic raspbery leaf tea from Amazon and have been drinking one cup a day since I was 32 weeks pregnant (now 34+4). I use a heaped teaspoon in a cup filter thing and add half a teaspoon of honey. It's actually quite nice! I do notice it needs a bit of a stir halfway through though as the sediment can settle a bit.

Haven't had any BH yet (at all) - so don't think it's doing any harm! Planning to up my dose to 2-3 a day when I start maternity leave at 37 weeks.

I have never seen any convincing evidence that drinking this stuff makes the tiniest bit of difference. It tastes horrible too. Have a biscuit instead, you will feel happier!

I started drinking it at 32 weeks this time. I'm having 1/2 cups a day but may increase at 37 weeks. It's the Heath and Heather bags from Holland and Barratt.

It's supposed to make uterine contractions more efficient. I drank it last time and, despite being induced on due date, I found labour straightforward and only pushed for 15 minutes. I'm sure this was nothing to do with RLT but I'm not taking any chances! I don't mind the taste though!

I started drinking it at 34 weeks with DD and just increased to 3 a day at 37 weeks. It tasted nice with one sugar in lol! The bags from holland and Barrett were good for me. Whether it helped I don't know for sure but I woke up to my waters breaking at 39+5 and was having contractions 5 mins apart immediately. Really strong and would have been nice and quick had she not got stuck! So I will be doing the same again this time. Good luck x

I started taking the capsules from 34w last time. Increasing the dosage each week until I was at the maximum.

Purely anecdotal of course but DS was born at 38+1 (induced) and I had a very quick 3 hour labour.

I started drinking it at 35 weeks, first one (large) cup a day and then by week 38 I was up to 3 cups a day. DD was induced at 42 weeks! My NCT instructor said she started drinking it from 29 weeks.

If you buy the tea bags then the ones from Holland and Barratt are the nicest and the ones from Whittards are absolutely vile.

I swear by this stuff! My first labour was quick just over 3hrs, here's hoping my next one (due in June) goes as well! I'll be taking it again as soon as possible.

Thanks ladies, might try the tea bags then and add some honey or sugar to sweeten, should I start now on a cup a day?