Raspberry leaf tea

[Superted2]

Hello!
I've heard Raspberry Lead tea can help speed up going into labour and the birth itself.
Has anyone had experience of this?
Also I'm 37 weeks, is it too late anyway for it to have any effect? Thanks!

I drank loads of it late in pregnancy. It didnt work for me personally (very long labour and didnt give birth until 42+2), and because i didnt enjoy the taste i wouldnt bother trying it next time.

I drank it from around 37 weeks, drank loads but did like the taste. First Labour 9 hours second just over 2

I tried it and developed a terrible allergy from one cup. My huge belly went all bright red 😬 and I'm not allergic to anything. Just be careful

I think it’s been debunked as a bit of a dud actually.

There was some concern that raspberry leaf could cause early miscarriage because it stimulated contractions of uterine muscles, but I think it was also found to be one of those myths...

Thanks everyone! I won't hold out too much hope then!

Lots of my NCT group drank it, I didn't. I went into labour naturally 2 days early (19 hours) others were induced, one resulted in EMCS. I wouldn't waste your money tbh.

Did bugger all for me, twice. Don't waste your money.

If you like the taste then there's no harm but I don't think it does much for speeding labour up.
I've been drinking around 4 cups a day (really like fruity teas!) since around 36 weeks.
I'm due next week and still no sign of labour starting.

Not tried it myself but I heard it made labour easier not quicker

I took the capsules and was convinced it worked with my 3, maybe I was just lucky each time

I enjoyed drinking it and perhaps it helped... I gave birth and recovered very quickly from a 9lb 7oz-er and an 8lb 11oz-er

I drank a few cups a day from about 32 weeks I think.... I went into labour early at 38 weeks but had a long labour....back to back baby.

Didn't work for me, I also tried

Sex
Hot food
Pineapple
Bouncing on a ball
Clary sage
Bathed in oils
Burnt oils
Massaged pressure points
2 sweeps by midwives
1 sweep at the hospital

All of it is pointless. Nothing works and I was overdue by 2 days. If your body isn't ready it just isn't ready. My labour started at 4am.

RLT isn't supposed to bring on labour though - it's supposed to help your cervix to relax and 'ripen' and aid labour when it starts.

Though I believe you're warned to not just suddenly start drinking gallons of it, more like start with 1 cup and work your way up

Still a waste of time IMO

I started drinking several cups a day plus the capsules from about 35/36 weeks. Baby came a week early, I was having mild contractions for about 48 hours but actual labour was very very quick, she was out after 20 mins of pushing and I had no tears. I will definately be doing it again even if it was a coinsidence. You've got nothing to loose!

But yes it's meant to aid labour and help your cervix. When I got to 39 weeks I started using evening primrose oil which is supposed to help bring on labour.. I went into labour the day after I started. Again maybe a coinsidence but why not try.

thinkythonk how did you use the primrose oil? I've just read about inserting capsules into your vagina I'm using the RLT and building up to a few cups a day but am willing to give anything a go so long as the NHS doesn't say it's a no-no.

It's a uterine tonic and meant to make your second (pushing) stage more efficient.

None of these old wives tales make labour start. It begins when you're good and ready.

I drank it for my second and fourth.
Labour 1 27 hours
Labour 2 4 hours
Labour 3 6 hours
Labour 4 2 2.5 hours

I think it works for me!

To add, they were all overdue!

I had a couple of cups a day from 37 weeks. My understanding is that it helps strengthen uterine muscles and therefore makes for a quicker/easier labour. I also drank clove tea once a day, and did a lot of walking and bouncing on an exercise ball. I went into labour at 38+4 and DS was out in 2 1/4 hours.

I drank it from 35 weeks. Early labour from 2pm, active labour from 6pm and baby born at 11:35pm so quick enough for my first baby. Won't do any harm to give it a try.

If I was going to recommend doing anything it would be focus on doing your pelvic floor exercises as much as possible for the next few weeks. Really helped me with pushing and recovery afterwards!

Others here are right! It’s not about speed it’s about uterine toning. It’s wonderful stuff, I have extremely painful periods, painkillers don’t touch it and it’s the only thing that sorts it. Some months I don’t bother and I really pay for it. Experience leads me to really believe it’s a great woman’s herb. Apparently according to mum my Gmother had the same and my GGfather used to process the leaves to make it for her, like me she swore it was the only thing that works.

You have to drink it in a prolonged, sustained way over a course of time if you want it to be effective as it takes time to build up in the system, building up to several cups a day. I say it’ll definitely do you no harm and may even do you some good.

Obvs RL can’t do anything for babies positioning or other unseens. It’s a support not a ‘miracle’ herb.

Thank you for the clarification and what it's meant to do, certainly sounds there's no harm in trying!

I'm not sure its meant to speed up labour.... I had it with both my pregnancies, and in both cases I stretched quite nicely, and both times the midwives were impressed by how quickly my uterus snapped back into shape.