Raspberry leaf tea

[Waffle12]

Hi all.

Thinking of trying raspberry leaf tea. When googling it says it's best to start drinking it at about 32 weeks so it has a chance to build up in your system. I am 34 weeks now as just wanted to wait till midwife appointment this wednesday to check it's ok to drink.

Anyone used it before? Any opinions good or bad? Do you think 34 weeks is too late to start drinking it?

Thanks.

Might be, it's only to help give a shorter pushing stage anyway. It doesn't bring on labour or anything. Won't hurt though if you want to.

I'm 32 weeks and have begun to drink it!
Midwife hasn't said anything against it...

It isn’t supposed to start labour but it does help with getting your body/womb ready. I started drinking it around 35weeks with both my pregnancies and both dcs arrived early (dc1 36+6 and dc2 at 38weeks). It definitely helped my labours my fully established labour stage is less than an hour for both combined.

It's supposed to help things soften for birth. I used it and one fourth degree tear later I wouldn't say it worked for me lol.
But for everyone like me there will be more positive experiences so good luck

Oooo-interesting. Thank you for the replies so far.

I think I'll give it a go if midwife has no objections on wed. Had quite a long labour with first DC, so cant hurt to try.

I'm not the greatest with herbal drinks-does it have a pleasant taste?

You can get it in tablet form too. There is a page about it on the NHS website there will a list of reconditions which they say means you should not take it.

I drink it anyway (apart from coffee it’s the only hot drink I like) & like the taste. Because I have high risk pregnancies my consultant recommended I have no more than 1 cup a day until 36 weeks then I was ok to have my usual 3/4 cups. I’ve never had a pregnancy where I’ve not drank it so I can’t really say if it helped with the pushing stage (although they were all relatively quick). With dc4 & the dc5 the midwives commented at the 5 day checks that my uterus had contracted down more than they would have expected considering the ‘amount’ of dc I have, so it may have helped with that.

I drank it in my first pregnancy and only pushed for 11 minutes and had no complications. Don't know whether the tea had anything to do with it or I just got lucky but I'll be drinking it again this pregnancy on the off chance it did help

Drank it in my first pregnancy and pushing stage was 10 minutes (labour a lot longer thanks to back to back) so will definitely give it a whirl!
Also ate a lot of dates from about 34 weeks which I think is meant to have the same effect.

I drank it in my first pregnancy and only pushed for 6 minutes.
I was going to drink it in this pregnancy but read that if you've had a history of high blood pressure, you shouldn't.

I had unexplained high bp in last pregnancy and now wondering if it was to do with the tea.

Speak to your midwife/doctor first - don’t take anything if you aren’t sure what’s in it and what it may do! Get a good supply - maybe try a pharmacy or good health food store.

I was at a pregnancy yoga class last night and the teacher (A midwife) was talking about this. She said that you shouldn't take it in certain circumstances, such as if you've had a previous c-section or have high blood pressure. So definitely check with your midwife first.

Thank you all. It's so hard knowing whether it actually has an effect or whether it is just a coincidence I suppose. But quite a lot of positive experiences on here.

I have no conditions on the list on nhs site or bounty site that suggests I shouldn't take it, but yes definately will wait till I speak to midwife tomorrow.

Thanks again

Totally recommend it! I had 2 very straightforward labours and I'm certain it helped. My midwife recommended the RL extract tablets instead, at full dose from 36 weeks. Definitely do it!

Yes - but do check with midwife/doctor (not Dr Google or people on the internet) before you take anything or try anything while pregnant! (I used to teach pregnancy classes and it was something we really flagged to mums).

I swear by it I drank it from 34 weeks all the way to my delivery date four cups a day my pushing stage has only been maximum four pushes and I've never torn or needed stitches after I think it's due to the tea I honestly do.

I drunk it from 32 wks, started with one cup a day and increased it weekly. Had a very quick labour 4 hours in total, 10minutes pushing. Not sure if it works or if it was all in my head but I'd definitely drink it again

Can't tell you yet! I've been having the tablets and occasionally the tea from 32 weeks, 38+5 now. Hoping it'll give me a shorter labour but I guess if I do, I won't know if it was the raspberry leaf or not!

Personally I think it tastes really nice, I have no idea if it's benefitting me but in drinking it cos I've got hooked!