What is raspberry leaf tea supposed to do...?

[beansprout]

... and when should we start taking it?

Beansprout (and others from the October massive)

Thanks

Supposed to bring on labour apparently - has warnings on it that you shouldn't drink it before term if I remember correctly - although am going to try it 2 weeks before this one is due if he keeps growing at the rate he is!!!

Red Bush Tea is good too though!!

It stimulates the womb and can help strengthen the muscles that do the contractions.
Supposedly helps with a faster labour, but I drank it all the time with No.1 and had the labour from hell (but she was 10lbs)
It tastes bad so the tablets are good!

It can make the first stage quicker but as a side effect it can make the second stage longer -

Here is a thread I started many moons ago raspberryleaf

Thanks everyone. Mears, that is a VERY interesting thread, thanks for the link.

Its meant to be valued for its benefits to building uterine strength to encourage and help contractions. I have been drinking it for two weeks, and progressed to the tablets too this week! Holland & Barrett sell both - but then I saw my Ob yesterday and he told me it was balderdash, along with fresh pineapple, hot curry and a bumpy road!

Good luck!

Sx

Thanks Bean for starting this threa, and Mears for the link to the older one. I am still v confused though. Don't know what to do for the best really. Maybe will start at 35 weeks and hope for the best.

Bibiboo - The back of the packet of RLTea does strictly say do not take before 35 weeks......so I would be careful or ask your MW if you want to start before that.

Sx

Does this help link

The back of my RLT tablet pot says not suitable before 28 weeks, but nothing else.

Started taking it at 35 weeks had baby 2 weeks later 4 and a half hour labour, very painful no let up from contractions, baby seemed to fly out.

I would take it again even if it helps a tiny bit it's better than nothing. Think it's just your luck sometimes though!

i bought it from Holland and Barret who would'nt sell it to me unless i was 36wks but once i started contracting properly with both labours both dd's literally flew out - highly recommend it for strengthening those muscles!!

I took raspberry leaf tea it wasn't the really strong 100% one though it was a 50% one mixed with apple and raspberry tea and it was lovely. They asked me when I bought it if I was past 33 weeks.

I mentioned it to my midwife and she said not to take it until I was 37 weeks, don't know why, but I kept drinking the tea. I switched over to the tablets at 37 weeks though as they were 100% RLT. Was hoping that I might go a little early or at least on time but no went a week overdue.

Labour went a lot better and faster this time around but I don't know if that was because of the RLT or just because it was my second baby and she was in a better position.

It doesn't do any harm, so long as you don't take it too early in pregnancy, so it's worth a try, better than nothing I say.

I took RLT tablets with my younger 2 children from 37 weeks onwards.

Although DS1 was 1 week early (induced) my labour was 1 hour 30 mins - with my youngest, she was 16 days late (spontaneous labour) and again arrived after 1 hr 15 mins labour. Unlike my first labour, both labours went from nothing to contractions regularly.

Wish I'd taken it with DD1 after a drawn-out labour of 22 hours - lots of contractions but not very efficient.

I have some loose leaf RRL tea, which I will send to anybody who asks for it. I liked the taste in 2nd pregnancy, but no more.
I had 2 hour labours, btw. Maybe coincidence! I drank it from about 32-34 weeks.

I took it for a few weeks at the end.
I was a little crampy all day (when i had dd) but NOT in pain and then in agony for 3 hours then i had her so i beleive it worked for me :)

GOOD luck everyone:)+++++++++++++++

I had a cup of raspberry leaf tea at midday. By 2:30 the next morning I was holding my baby. That stuff works!

Oh god I drank it by the gallon and nothing! Tasted nice though!

Maybe you were sold a duff - mine tasted (and looked) like pond water

I drank used it with dd1 and it didn't work. I used to put lime cordial in mine cos i hated the taste.

I drank 4 cups/day for 3 weeks before due date. Didn't like the taste but persisted. Don't know if it was the tea or not but had a fab, quick, drug free "clean" delivery. I'm sold and will use it again if there's a next time.

I think it's a load of guff.Your baby will come when it's "cooked"

But I still drank it by the gallon in each pregnancy

Thanks guys, am still not sure when I'm going to start taking it, but will certainly take it if it strengthens my uterus. Never DREAMED I would one day be craving a strong uterus, but it's my top wish now

I drank it from 34 weeks - which was when my midwife aunt said it was OK to take.
It tasted really bad and I don't know if it did anything but next time I'll be taking it again as I had a really good labour.
The midwife actually said during my labour that my contractions were very short but really effective. Also I ws told that my uterus had gone back to pre pregnancy size very quickly.

Hello

My practitioner recommended I try Raspberry Leaf Tea when I was pregnant with my second son as I was a week over my due date, I remember that there was no health issue associated to drinking this herbal tea so once I was assured it was save to drink I had three cups every day for 3 days and I am very sure this helped, here is a good article I read a moment ago - www.tea-and-coffee.com/blog/raspberry-leaf-tea-pregnancy this talks about some scientific studies in to Raspberry Leaf Tea, you can also get it HERE I hope this could be of help.

Sarah XXX