Rasberry Leaf Tea

[Sueby]

Just wanted to ask whether anyone has used rasberry leaf tea towards the end of their pregnancy and how they found it etc if it worked pro's con's etc.
Sue

[prama]

Hi Sueby, I'm using it now. The midwife at our antenatal class said it can reduce labour by a few hours.
I dont like the taste of the tea so I'm taking BM's tablets.
I'd also be interested to know if it made a difference in anyone's pgs.

[sneakysparkle]

Hey Sue, there is another thread on raspberry leaf - I'll have a look for you

[Mel09]

My friends ob told her not to take it unless she was after hemmorageing (sp) and for her body to go into shock....

Just thought I would mention that... as we were both going to take it...

[prama]

oh yes, and if you've got problems with your uterus you shouldnt take it. get a clear from your ob/midwife

[CatherineL]

I took it from the beginning of the second tri - had no problems whatsoever... I had a three hour labor in total and only gave a couple of pushes before I was told to stop because my body was working so hard and doing it all by itself! I did go into a little bit of shock because labor was very quick. I'm happy with it and we'll take it again next time.

[gorgeous_lea]

I was the same as you Catherine, my labour was only 2.5 hours and i also couldnt stop shaking from the quick labour, the midwife told me the baby practically delivered itself !!! I had no bleeding problems either.

[CatherineL]

I'm wondering Lea, were all your labors short or just a particular one you took RLT for? I wonder what my second labor will be...

[gorgeous_lea]

I only took it for my second preg ( the short labour one). I was a bit worried about taking it again for the others, but they were still short labours anyway (5 hours). btw, i had a daughter around 9lb with my quick labour too.

[CatherineL]

Awesome Lea... I always wonder whether i'm just one of those people that have short labors or whether it was the RLT and EPO's I took! Sounds like the RLT does do what they say... I'm definately not missing it next time then. LOL! And who says bigger babies are harder to birth? WTG!

[Willow]

I took it this time, but not for my first child.

My first labour was 72 hours (probably the first 24 would be classed as 'pre labour' but I don't care, it bl**dy hurt!) and my second was 5 hours!

So for me a huge difference.

I would probably back off it a bit next time (practically drowned myself in the stuff this time!) because as some of the others have mentioned, I was in a bit of shock and had the shakes etc for a few hours afterwards, I just was not prepared for things to happen so quickly the second time around.

I might sound nuts here but given the choice again - I think I'd take slow and steady over fast and furious!

[leeloo]

Hi there....

I've been taking the Raspberry leaf tablets and have been getting quite strong Braxton Hicks... I'm only taking 1 tablet at the moment, the recommended dose is 6 a day!! I'm gonna just keep taking the 1 tablet and see how I go, I had a previous C-Section and don't want to put too much pressure on my scar!!

[Nelle]

Eek! I thought it just toned the uterus for more efficient labour...I didn't put 2 + 2 together and think it'd make labour quicker! Yes, I do realise in hindsight that that's pretty dumb of me.

I was going to start it soon, but seeing that bub's engaged and in the right possy, plus me falling apart as it is with all that relaxin, my middies are predicting a 5 hour labour as it is - which seems SO short to me! I was quite happy with my 11 hour labour last time, gave my body time!!

Think I might steer clear of the raspberry leaf tea then...unless I want to give birth in the car!

[Sequoia]

My OB said to take it after 35 weeks!

[Ozziehoffy]

I tried it once... and couldn't stand the taste so didn't have it again. My labour was 3 1/2 hours so I'd hate to think how fast if it does shorten labour!! I got the shakes after as well though...lol.

[Katstribe]

I can't say i have done the RLT but i have known others who have and some say it helped and others say it made no diff. Another natural thing to try is to get down on all fours every day from 35 wks onwards and jsut rock your pelvis from side to side for about 10mins each day. This is supposed to help bub get into the best position and can also help you to go into labour early! They say that the reason most of us go over is because bubs isnt in the most optimum position.
A GF of mine had been in labour for over 24hrs and went back to hos to get everything checked out and MW discovered that bub had its head tilted! She said there was no way she was going to deliver bub that way, made her lay on her back with feet up against a wall and she had to do afew diff movements then jump onto all fours and do some stuff. After that she now go for a walk and bubs should be born in around 2 hrs! 2 and a half hours later her little bundle came ito the world safe n sound!!!!!
I will be doing this with my bub, as it was what she recommended and she obviously knows what she is doing!!!!

Anyway sorry for the ramble and maybe this can help someone else too.
Cheers
Kat

[smiles4u]

My two midwives who had been doin their job since the 80's absolutely swore that the Raspberry Leaf Tea helps bring on the labour ... And pressing certain pressure points on the body which they did for me for a few moments (wrists, inside ankles I think ???) !!!!

I was one day overdue and they told me to head to the health shop for it ... Well, I didn't get to try as I went into labour the very next morning

[Janie]

I drank the tea from about 20 weeks, and gave birth at 35 weeks (unrelated to the RLT!) with a 14 hour labour.

My OB (who has been doing it for over 30 years) said that he's never seen a woman who has used RLT have a bad labour. My labour progressed very nicely, and I certainly didn't haemmorage. I don't know a midwife who wouldn't recommend it.