34weeks

[SweetSunflowerBoo]

I'm nearly 34 weeks and people have recommended me to start eating dates, drinking red raspberry leaf drink, bouncing on my pregnancy ball and to start perineal massage.

Does that all sound about right? The right time to start it all?

I'm asking on here before my midwife appointment in a few days.

I'm not sure if I should ask her anything

Is there anything else I should start doing now?

Thanks

I’m 34 weeks tomorrow, so will be following this with interest

I thought it was 36 weeks for the perineal massage?
I’ve been sitting on my ball for weeks - I find it helps with pelvic pain, but I’m not sure about the bouncing bit.
The tea and the dates are to help with labour, not induce right?

I'm not sure about the perineal massage- I keep getting different answers so thought would try my luck here before asking midwife.

I'm not sure about the tea and dates either - sooo much to learn for pregnancy and birth and I don't feel ready! I can't tell the difference between facts and opinions

I’m 34 weeks too so I’m gonna follow this thread if that’s ok x

I bought raspberry leaf tea today, ready. I'm nearly 34 weeks. The lady in Holland and Barrett said 38 weeks was sure it was earlier!!!

Hey, midwife here. Yes now is the time to start drinking raspberry leaf tea
And eat dates. You need to increase the volume over the weeks. There should be info online about how many you eat and drink and when to increase.

Stay active, lots of upright, forward and open positioning. Would start perineal massage now aswell, and would think about starting colostrum harvesting in the next week or so

I believe it’s 1 cup of RLT a day for a week, then 2 a day, then 3 a day. Keep drinking throughout. The dates it’s 6 a day. Quite a lot!

@Mummyme87 do all of these things help to make labour "easier" or gradually help induce things getting going I.e. less likely to go over due but not rushing things?

RLT preps your cervix, dates - there is evidence it reduces chance of going post dates, shorter labour and shorter pushing stage, less blood loss.
The colostrum harvesting is good from a feeding perspective, also to get used to handling your breasts in this way and it’s good to know how to hand express in advance incase you need to. The positioning is good to keep baby in a good position for labour

@Mummyme87

Hey, midwife here. Yes now is the time to start drinking raspberry leaf tea And eat dates. You need to increase the volume over the weeks. There should be info online about how many you eat and drink and when to increase.

Stay active, lots of upright, forward and open positioning. Would start perineal massage now aswell, and would think about starting colostrum harvesting in the next week or so

Is there a right kind of tea to drink? Or is it literally "red raspberry leaf tea" Do I get it from a health store like Holland and barret?

My midwife said not to do colostrum harvesting before 37 weeks when baby was full term. She said to start perineal massage around 35 weeks, if I wanted to do it.

Any RLT, or the capsules.

You can start colostrum harvesting earlier, people breastfeed throughout pregnancy. If it was genuinely going to put you into labour, we would use it as a method of induction

I honestly think this stuff makes no difference. I did raspberry leaf tea from 38 weeks and colostrum from 39, certainly didn’t put me into labour and was actually just annoying.

Dates can give you diarrhoea. I know a few people from my mothers group had a miserable few weeks with it. If you’re trying to prepare your body, perineal massage can be useful but again it’s pretty uncomfortable and if you’re going to tear (with your first baby$m) I think it’s unavoidable.

What is the science behind the raspberry leaf tea & dates?? I’m 25wks and watching & learning from you ladies 🤣 xo