The midwife at our Antenatal Class briefly mentioned Raspberry Leaf. I've since googled it & have read that it can help prepare for birth by strengthening the uterine muscle & lead to a easier labour. I'm wondering if any of you have tried it & whether you thought it was of any benefit?
I've used it (the tea). Tastes pretty average but I put a teaspoon of sugar in with it It's one of those things that you'll probably never know how different your labour was if you'd not taken it - but given all the info out there about it, I imagine it's true that it's good for you. Also good for after the birth as it helps your uterus shrink back down etc.
If anything, it's good for you psychologically as it gives you more confidence! In my case anyway!
You can also take it in tablet form if you hate the tea.
I faithfully took it everyday in the capsule form once I started the third trimester. I went on to have a 22 hour labour! Maybe it would've been longer without it lol, who knows. But I'll still take it with any subsequent pregnancies anyway because it can't hurt.
i took while preg with my DS. i'm not sure if it helped - mind you i didn't drink as much as i should have of it. but i sure helped post-birth with the uterus shrinking after the birth. plus i read some where it can also help with breast milk production (maybe its the extra water?) but it can't hurt to try it...the taste while not the best can be 'helped' with sugar or honey or if so inclined lemmon.
I used the tablets from 34 weeks (didn't like the tea) and I had very effective contractions. (Nothing to fully dialated in 6 hours, I was already fully dialated by the time we got to the hospital!). I created the raspberry leaf tablets with this! I will certainly be doing it again next time.
I'll be trying it this time around. I bought some when pg with DS, but only got one try, coz he was born the next morning! It's sposed to help bring on labour, but I doubt its that good (I was 39+ weeks & had already had 2 contractions that morning)
I'm gonna start around 30 weeks this time. Not sure how much I'll handle a day, but I'll give it a go
A few BB girls have prefered the tea iced with honey. I'm not sure how I'll have it yet...
Have been thinking about this - my length of labour was more due to bub's position than anything else. Possibly the raspberry leaf did help as when I got to hospital I was already 8cm dilated. And when my contractions started they were very strong & regular. My body was working very hard to turn bubs around!
I took the tablets from 34 weeks with my DD. I would definitely take them again, I had no pushing stage - she just moved down and crowned without any help, then a tiny little push and she shot out. I don't know if it was the RL but my contractions were certainly very effective.
I have drunk Raspberry Leaf tea with all my pregnancies.
Always starting with 1 cup a day at 32wks with a little honey, and increasing to 3-4cups a day by 39wks... DS - contractions started 3mins apart and didn't get any closer or further apart, even with the epidural, labour was 12hrs. DD - contractions again 3mins apart, labour 4 1/2hrs. (I also take Evening primrose oil from 37wks)
it also helps uterus contract, bleeding and also helps bring ur milk in too...
Artechim - interesting re. the pushing (or non-pushing rather). I didn't push my second bub out - I just focussed on relaxing and my body pushed her out. I'd been drinking RLT for that pregnancy too so wonder if it was related? Interesting thought.
I was drinking Raspberry Leaf tea from about 34 weeks....one cup and then 4-6 cups after 37 weeks. I had a very quick labour! Very quick but pretty painful though so I don't know if that is considered efficient. I dilated 7cm in 3 hours. VE at 4:45pm was 3cm, fully dilated and pushing at 7:40pm...baby born at 7:59pm
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Raspberry Leaf
It's one of those things that you'll probably never know how different your labour was if you'd not taken it - but given all the info out there about it, I imagine it's true that it's good for you. Also good for after the birth as it helps your uterus shrink back down etc.
(I was 39+ weeks & had already had 2 contractions that morning)
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