Advice on Raspberry Leaf Tea/Tablets

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I bought a pack of tea from the health food shop yesterday. The woman in the shop said it's safe to take from 28weeks which I have to say, I somewhat doubt. I'm 33+2 and was planning on starting with one cup a day on Monday when I hit 34. Or is that too early still? The packet just says "later pregnancy"

I would think one cup a day ok from 34 weeks but id you're worried wait until more like 36. Than after 38ish, give it all you've got

agree 28 far too early - not because I think it;ll actually do much but if you did go into labour early you'd always wonder and blame yourself a bit

That's my gut feeling now! I'd kick myself if I went into labour early. I did question the shop lady but got the vibe that she was lady superior being that this is my first pregnancy. Phah! Got MW appointment tomorrow so will see what she says

I always got the impression that the tea was fairly harmless but you had to be more careful with the tablets.
And I like the tea - usually hate all teas
Good luck for labour, hope it is on time and qquick

I drank a million cups of the tea and was induced at 42 weeks.

I've started trying this today. Am 37 weeks with large twins and having a c section on tuesday so just trying to see if i can get them to come a bit sooner and do it naturally. Had 2 cups so far, will let you know how it goes...

If you can stomach the taste, go for it. Personally always took the tablets from about 32 weeks. Must remember to get some now actually. Thanks.

It doesn't bring on labour - it's just supposed to help tone the uterus and make labour easier.

I drank gallons of the stuff (much nicer if you buy it in leaf, non-flavoured form I think - tastes more like tea and less like coloured p*ss) but ended up with an emergency c-section! My uterus must have been beautifully toned though

I am inclined to doubt the qualifications of people working in health food shops, they are after all just sales assistants. Just yesterday I was in a health food shop in the queue behind a pg lady and she was told it was ok to take cod liver oil to help improve her nails while pregnant...despite the fact that it contains a lot of vit A which we are told not to take in pregnancy! My sil was told 34 weeks by her mw and that seems to be agreed by the mums in the know here.

I drunk it from about 34 weeks with DD (now 5 weeks), 4 hours from waters to birth at 38 +6, but biggest difference between DD and DS was lack of afterpains which I had been warned were loads worse with no 2

I couldn't drink the tea but took the tablets over the last few weeks. I did progress quite quickly once everything kicked off, despite trying to slow it down while I waited for a section...!

A cup of tea each day ok from 32-34 weeks so you are fine now - its not that strong.... it tones the uterus doesn't bring on labour.

By the end of my pregnancy with my DD I drank 3-4 litres a day of it [yuck] - brewed with the leaves not the flavoured stuff from the health food shop, and still was overdue.

Just had my MW appointment,and she said not to start until 37weeks as some women are more sensitive than others? Hmm maybe I'll compromise and go for about 35/36!

Sheila Kitzinger's book said from 34 weeks if I recall correctly. However, I tried one cup at that point and decided it was too foul to bother with.

I was told that you have to drink at least 30 cups of tea a day to have the same effect as the tablets. I'm taking the tablets but don't think they are doing much

I'm 37 weeks.

i emptied 2 capsules to make 1 cup of tea was suprised the taste was not too bad. my midwife said she was sceptical about the effect but that it wouldnt hurt after 34 weeks. i did feel as if they were doing something, i got some really strong contractions on my due day but maybe needed a tea that opens the cervix as i needed an ecs 3 days later!

I've asked MW, consultant and pharmacist about tablets and none of them had even heard of it (wanted to check as I'm taking meds and didn't want a reaction). And the lady in the shop that I bought it from said only take it on advice of MW. Helpful!

THEY DONT WORK!!!!!!!!

If that baby isnt ready no amount of crappy tea will get it out.

(after 2 inductions following excessive RLT drinking/pineapple/sex/curry/walking I am deeply )

A friend of mine swore by it and said ramp up from a cup of tea a day from week 32.

I like the tea (even drank it before I was pregnant but then I like lots of hippy teas which I know is unusual!) - recommend getting proper loose tea though rather than tea bags.

I got mine from here
www.nbtea.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000099.cgi?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2enbtea%2eco%2euk%2facata log%2fshop%2ehtml&WD=leaf%20raspberry&PN=OrganicTeas%2ehtml%23a121TH12#a1_21TH12

i start drinking the tea at 37 weeks full on 5 cups aday 3 days later an my waters broke, 5 hours after that our son was born.

i'd hold off for a bit longer!

good luck !

I think I was eager - had read that you could start drinking it at 32 weeks - so I did! Am 34 weeks now and still drinking it

I do cheat though - I put a spoonful of sugar in it (c:

I drank tonnes of it, had acupunture, reflexology, sex, curry and was induced at 42 weeks. Even then he didn't want to come out.....

It's not going to start labour, that will only happen when baby is ready.
They do however tone your uterus, have had 4 quick labours, all under 4.5 hours, and uterus snaps back into shape very quickly afterwards, which by now you'd think was like a piece of old grey knicker elastic.
In fact I'm induced nowdays after DC2 arrived in about 25mins. they like to be able to control my labour in a planned environment, rather than my babies flying out like a cork in random places.

I've done a bit of googling and quizzed my SIL who's a medic. She lives in SA and it seems to be an alien potion to South Africans! I'm gonna start tea at 35weeks. Reading everyone's comments on here from it doing nothing, to babies out within next to no time, I'd like to go for a happy medium!

hi fiveisanawfullybignumber im expecting my 6th an the last 3 where less than an hour long labours, an i had a heavy bleed after my last dd but they just keep telling me to ring 999 if i go into labour at home.
how did you get them to do that as my consultant didnt want to know??