Evening Primrose Oil & Raspberry Leaf Tea

[*The_Mrs.*]

So starting today I am taking Evening Primrose Oil & Raspberry Leaf Tea. I know neither have actually been proven to help induce labor naturally. I do know that Evening Primrose Oil can help prepare my cervix by softening it, and the tea can tone the muscles of the uterus. Just wondering other people's input on these two items. Has anyone had successful results with these?

[BekZ]

I know mums that highly recommend using both. I used it last pregnancy but I don't think I was using enough of either. Although I did dilate quickly whist in labour and my uterus seemed to recover quick.

[MamaPan]

I used them both last preg - had a fab labour and birth - dont know if it contributed but I figure it cant hurt!
Have beena bit slack so far, just about to start the tea today.. and will start inserting EPO next week...
good luck with it all - let us know how you get along...

[Fleur]

Nothing useful to add sorry, as I have never used either... jumping in here out of interest as I'm doing the RLT now & thinking about EPO.

Jessica, I cannot get through more than one or two cups a day of RLT so am taking a tablet as well. How much EPO do you use & from when?

[Miss E]

I'm taking the RLT and have been for a few weeks now. But, I haven't heard anything about the Evening Primrose. How do you take it and how much should you take?

[bon]

I prefer to take the RL tablets because I just can't drink 3-4 cups of tea a day...I can't say whether it has made my labours better, but they have all been fairly short - the longest was 8 hours, which was my first, and my last was about 4 hours.

[alioops]

EPO when inserted vaginally has similar properties to prostaglandin. I use 2 capsules at night and sometimes 1 in the morning. The acidity in your CM will break down the capsule, or if you want you can put it in just before DTD and it makes a great lube. Do put your knickers and a pad on afterwards though because it is messy stuff!!

[*The_Mrs.*]

Well because I am only 33 weeks right now, I am only taking one 500mg orally of EPO until I hit 36 weeks. Than I will take two orally and two vaginally at night. As for the tea I know how hard it is to try and drink 8 cups a day. Unless you loved to tea to begin with it is difficult. So I think I am going to switch to RLT tablets next week.

[Inertia]

I am going out for the RLT Tabs today. My older sister called me specifically telling me I should be taking them already as she worries about my extremely lengthy labours and a repeat PPH with my aversion to needles.

I still contest that this will be the first time I will go into labour without being malnourished and dehydrated, but every little bit helps, right? Sadly I guess that would mean there is no way for me to be sure that it helped me. I would like to think that the combination of both these will get me through a nice, shorter pre-labour though. 2 weeks on minimal sleep right before having a baby is not good for a new mummy.

[*The_Mrs.*]

So I just got the RLT tablets and may I say it is much easier than drinking 8 cups a day. I would much rather take one little pill.

[MamaPan]

had you been feeling effects with the tea - i know last time i got a lot more 'twangs and pangs' when i had drunk it... will be interested to see if it does the same with the tablets?
Inertia - hoping for a shorter labour for you this time...

[*The_Mrs.*]

I got the same reaction with the tea and the tablets.