Dilemma: Raspberry Leaf Tea

[mmiotte]

I realise there are many more important things to get worried about, however, please bear with me:

I have read all the good things written about Raspberry Leaf Tea (both the liquid and the pills) for inducing labour, ripening the bits etc, and that one should start taking it around 37 weeks.

HOWEVER, my husband is away 10 days before my due date, and am rather paranoid about starting anything (RLT, curries, pineapple) until he comes back. Would hate for him to miss anything (read: want to ensure he completely understands what I'm going to have to go through to produce him an heir!!)

Any suggestions?

Some background - am into my 35th week, am walking around like a 60 year old and it's my first (so hopefully will be slightly late anyway).

id let nature take its course really... I dont think the tea brings on labour, but prepares your body for it... someone will answer better in a min!

raspberry leaf tea can help first stage labour in that it gets the body ready but it can lead to a longer second stage labour. Fwiw I found that when the time is right you will go into labour

My understanding of raspberry leaf tea is that it helps to strengthen uterine muscles, not to trigger labour. (gothicmama that's interesting re second stage, can you link?) .

I think the rest of the things you mention are very unlikely to spontaneously get things started, so relax.

Well, I've been taking it since 36 weeks, second baby and I'm now a day overdue.

Does that help?

Thanks for the input - will go and buy some and start gently (1 cup per day) to tone up those uterines - they will need as much help as they can get. Will then rely on Mother Nature and the likelihood that this being a first child, it will be late. Otherwise, I will be relying on my best mate to be my birth partner - she'll probably be of more use than my other half since she's had one herself, but think that DH should be there for emotional blackmail purposes later.