Raspberry leaf tea

[Winnie87]

I've read that if you drink raspberry leaf tea from 32 weeks it's meant to help with labour. This is my second and there is a good chance I'll have to be induced early due to big baby, so slightly worried it'll be a long induction. I'm looking for anything that will help! So any advice please let me know 😊

Hi @Winnie87, I vaguely remember being advised not to drink it until 37 weeks as it can apparently trigger contractions - I don’t think it made any difference to me once I started. No more than 2 cups a day too.

That and Clary Sage I remember being drilled into me to avoid until 37 weeks. But not sure if that’s better for you to start earlier if you expect to deliver earlier. Sorry, not much help!

I drank it with my first, I’m not sure if it helped, but I narrowly missed an induction. I’m expecting my second and I’ve been listening to an audiobook which recommends eating dates for a few weeks before the due date. It’s supposed to get the cervix ready. I don’t know how reliable that info is!

Ooh that’s worth a try! I now our hypnobirthing lady said it would really help to do the perineal (not sure if that’s right!) massage, but I didn’t give that a go - to try avoid tearing. Luckily I didn’t have issues anyway!
How old is your first DC? Ours if 2 1/2 and we’re just over 5 weeks into 2nd pregnancy :)

@mrsS21 oh never heard of clary sage being one. I'm willing to try anything..
she is 2 1/2 aswell :), we thought it was a good age gap. Time will tell on that!

@Constellationstation dates is a good suggestion too. Maybe have to try all these and hopefully one does something ha

I used raspberry leaf capsules with all of mine. I'm old so going back years and there was no warning then about not using it early so did from very early days and doubled up capsules near the end. I'm not recommending this obviously but anecdotally had many more capsules with the first, forgot to take as regularly with second and third. First was induced at nearly 42 weeks took three and a half hours start to finish, second 4 hours and 3rd, where I'd been more lax taking as busier with other two was the worst at 6 hours. Think it's suppose to tone the womb so it is more efficient doing its job.

I used the capsules. And I pumped some milk to freeze which they tell you not to do before a certain time frame but neither made me go into labour luckily. I will say I hadn't heard I wasn't meant to do them until after and it was too late to take it back.

Well I think I'm definitely going to give them a try, no harm in it.. I am going to collect colostrum but will do that round 36 weeks. Got to be prepared. Thank you for all advice

I took the raspberry leave tablets all through pregnancy (when I remembered that is) and got to hospital at 3, baby in arms at 6.30 and no time for pain relief. As he is my only one I can't say if it was just my good luck but glad I took them. Advised by SIL who also had very quick labour.

Another who used the tablets here ( think they were from Holland & Barrett), with both of mine at the suggestion of my almost retired midwife. Both labours around 4.5 hours, just had a TENS machine for pain relief.

I'm going back years here but I took the raspberry leaf capsules and don't think they helped a jot! DS was 3 days late and my labour was 24 hours and ended up in an emergency situation and ventouse. Didn't bother the second time around and DD was also 3 days late and a 20 hour labour, so don't think they worked for me! 😂

So shall I just start them now? I'm 30 weeks just only 2 weeks off what it says online.

I can't remember when I started but I made the tea and drank it twice a day. First labour took off so fast was a bit much and midwife asked me never to use it again. I didn't use it for second pregnancy and had longish labour and pethidine which I hated. Took it again for 3rd and again quick and no pain relief needed.
Good luck whatever you decide!