Anyone else eaten dates and drank raspberry leaf tea to help labour?

[Ros2023]

I’ve been looking up on eating dates from 36 weeks pregnant to help with labour and drinking raspberry leaf tea. I’ve read they can help have a softer cervix, shorter first stage of labour and strengthen your uterus.
has anyone else tried these in the past and you think it may have helped labour?
I am not keen on either but wondering whether it’s worth trying.

I did both and it made no difference. I suspect it’s one of those things that just makes you feel like you’ve done something that might help but doesn’t really make a difference and isn’t as off putting as perinatal massage.

Did raspberry leaf tea and had quick labours - really quick- but no idea if it was down to that. I liked the taste though.

I was also running up and down stairs to be sick in first labour and had spent most of day/week before on ergonomic chair finishing an OU essay - and had heavy babies in right position - so all that helped. Plus later pg were quite close together and HB - and third think she tried to come few days earlier but was stressed out by people round me and it stalled and next time it started she wasn't waiting.

I had 6 dates a day and drank 3 cups of raspberry leaf tea. I built this up from 32 weeks. I went 3 days over and waters broke that morning. Baby was born at 7 o'clock that night after 2 hours 15 minutes in labour.

I drank raspberry leaf tea with my first. 36 hours in labour. Took the capsules with my second, she was out in 3 pushes.

Yes both. I was then induced and went into labour v quickly after 1 pessary which is unusual. Whether it was the tea/dates I have no idea but what’s the harm trying?

I drank raspberry leaf tea and walked for miles once I started Mat leave for my first DC.
DC1 was a week and a half late, I laboured for 72hrs before an EMCS 🙄

Yes. Baby was overdue and my only induction 🤣

yep to both, DS1 was 11 days overdue and had to be born with forceps, but if it makes you feel better have a go.

I also ate load of pineapple, including the woody inside core which is where the stuff to help soften your cervix is and still didn't help.

I put it in a blender and made smoothies out it, tasty, and probably full of fiber so guess it wasn't a complete waste of time

Took raspberry leaf tablets, very quick labour - about 2 hrs and no stitches / tears. No idea if that was due to the raspberry leaf.

I think the evidence is there but pretty small. I took the capsules (far preferable and I think stronger than the tea) and did dates from 34 weeks and had 3 very overdue babies and fairly long labours. But who knows what it would have been like without? I did notice if I took the maximum dose of capsules I had a lot more Braxton hicks so they must do something. If you don't mind doing it then do but my advice for dealing with being overdue (5.5 weeks in total!) is don't do anything that you don't want to! Including sweeps, sex, pineapple , Clary sage etc. Do what makes you feel relaxed and happy, it makes baby more likely to come and the waiting much less upsetting. Good luck!

I ate six dates a day from 34 weeks for each of my last two pregnancies as I heard this would assist with bringing on labour naturally close to term. Not sure if it actually assisted in labour or not. Anyway from my sample size of one woman, two DC, I delivered without any prompting at 39+6 (12 hour labour, about 6 hours actual work) and 38+2 (6 hour labour, 4 hours actual ouch) so that's 100% success rate an added benefit is that it really helped with the late pregnancy constipation each time, brought on by my beige diet and iron tablet consumption!

I had one cup of raspberry leaf tea and my waters broke within an hour! It would have been a six hour labour but DS's head got stuck towards the end and I needed an instrument delivery.

Yes didn’t work.

I did with my first and had a 36 hour labour. Didn't bother with my second and labour was 2.5 hours but second births are often quicker. Who knows but didn't seem to work for me!

At forty weeks, you want to go to a Middle Eastern beauty salon and ask for a full Hollywood bikini wax with sugaring. Body realizes something is happening and goes into labour. You can thank me afterwards.

Took raspberry leaf tablets and had a 3.5 hr first (only) labour. No idea if they made any difference.