Raspberry leaf tea/tablets?

[Katnissx]

Planning to start raspberry leaf, I'm 33 weeks now. Just wondering if it's better to take the tablets rather than the tea? I've heard the tablets are meant to be better as they are higher concentration, but how much do you really need to take? I don't want to accidentally kick start labour early because I have taken too much 🙈 (I know there's no real evidence for it!)

Also does anyone know if the tea/tablets are ok to take with iron tablets? Do they effect the uptake of iron or anything?

I took the tablets from 36 weeks as the smell of the tea made me sick. My midwife was fine with me taking them alongside my pregnacare but only from 36 weeks.

Not sure if it there was a link but i went into labour 37+4 days and had a relatively easy birth so will definitely be having it again this time.

It’s too early yet wait another week or so before taking them. I took tablets and had the tea. Start with one a day and build up gradually, if your getting painful BH lower the dose.

@Oneandabean oh really? I had heard they were recommended to start from 32 weeks (well this was for the teas)? If I start them later would it be long enough to help with strengthening my uterus and to make a difference?

I started from 34 weeks on midwife advice. My local health food shop won’t even sell them to you until your 36 weeks. But yes there will still be time.

@Oneandabean ah okay thank you, will hold on for another week then ☺️ can I ask where you get your capsules from? Have only heard of people getting them from Holland and Barrett but I'm not keen to pay the delivery costs 🤔

Also do you mind me asking more about your build up? How many did you build up to? And how gradually did you do it? Or is there instructions on the tablets about this?

I take the tablets and have done since 32 weeks. My midwife said it's not meant to help bring on labour at all, but it can help make labour shorter and contractions more effective as it strengthens the uterine muscles.

I have a local health food shop that I’ll get them from, just have to lie a little about how many weeks I am. I built up to 2 capsules a day and I think it was 2 or 3 cups of tea.

A long time ago now, but I took the tablets (wasn't aware it was available as a tea) with both of mine. Both labours were under 5 hours long and easy, so definitely worth a try.

I've been drinking the tea from 32weeks (1 cup a day) I'm now 35weeks and have lost my mucus plug and have been contracting, was checked in hospital and the contractions are stronger than braxton hicks but not strong enough to have any affect on my cervix yet. I will up to 2 cups a day this week and then 3 cups a day from 37 weeks.
This is my third baby so my body does know what to do already so might not be anything to do with the tea 🤷🏼‍♀️ who knows xx

Thank you for the replies. I think I might start tea now and then go to the capsules in a week or 2 😊
Fingers crossed it works! 😬🤞🏻

I drank GALLONS of the tea for all three babies, nothing started early. However I do labour quickly and quicker each subsequent labour (hoping for the same this time 😬🤞) so maybe it helped, although it's also likely that it's just my genetics. I hated the tea so I would make it in large jugs and keep it in the fridge, then down glasses of it quickly without tasting it 😂
Good luck!

I read the tea is weaker (and tastes horrid)

Took the tea once a day from 32 weeks, tea once per day and one capsule from 35weeks, then finally tea once per day and 2 capsules from 37 weeks ( I sometimes missed the tea though and just took capsules due to taste)

Baby was born in 7 hrs from first contractions, on due date.

Also did the eating 6 dates a day thing if you have been told about that

Thank you @calimommy & @Caspianberg ! No I haven't heard about the dates, please do tell? 😃

Also how many mg of raspberry leaf did people have in their capsules?
I'm just looking on Amazon and there are a few different strengths. The ones I'm looking at (Nature's Aid) are 187mg per tablet of leaf extract which it says is equivalent to 750mg dried leaf (whatever that means 🤣). Obviously I know you can up the dose and then take 2 gradually etc but just wondering if that seems about right per tablet?
It also says not to take more than 2 tablets when I have heard people saying about taking 3 from like 38/39 weeks?

I've ordered the HotTea Mama raspberry leaves to take for the next couple of weeks before starting the capsules ☕️😄 (hoping it doesn't taste as awful as the straight stuff 🙈)

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