Rasberry Leaf Tea

[Nelle]

Nettie, they sound like BH to me - aren't BH just any type of practice contractions? They don't have to be full on? Just like everyone's contractions feel different, I guess everyone's BH's feel different too!

Hmm Shoe. I'll take a guess at muchness of a muchness? The tea might be more effective because it's a liquid, so could be absorbed much easier. But then the tablets might be more concentrated, and it's easier to take tablets than make up tea, so you're more likely to be consistent...

I got some tea today! Will hopefully pack the labour bag tonight and then I'll feel safe to have my first cup.
I was deciding between the tea and tablets too, and decided on the tea because I figure I'm killing two birds with one stone there - the tea will keep me hydrated too, and I'm definitely not drinking enough lately! (or ever really, I'll be honest. )

[Sequoia]

Thanks Nelle, I've bought the tablets and will start Friday when I'll be 35 weeks as per OB instructions.

[mrs baj]

Nettie yeah they sound like BH to me definately. they weren't painful for me at all with ds, got quite uncomfortably strong near the end though. This time round unfortunately they've been pretty bad for ages.

Shoegal I've heard that the tea is definately more potent and therefore more effective so you don't need to take it as much. I think it'd work out cheaper too. I've been taking one-two cups a day but have it with a fruit tea like strawberry and a little honey and it's really nice. If you'll have time to sit down for a cuppa once a day then I'd say try the tea after you've finished the tablets maybe, or combine the two iykwim.

Nelle don't wanna sound rude or anything but didn't I read that you were gonna pack your bag a few weeks ago? It just reminds me SO much of when I was pg with ds coz I put it off for so long dh had to pack it when I was in labour. Hope this doesn't happen to you though

[Nelle]

didn't I read that you were gonna pack your bag a few weeks ago?

Yeah well, forget all the natural birth philosophies, I think I have found the real attraction of homebirthing...
I discovered a whole lot of stuff I need to buy...and who knows what happened to the lot of dark undies I bought for after Riv was born...

[meow]

I've been consistently drinking 2-3 cups of tea for a week now (was haphazard before that) and I still haven't one BH. So don't panic that it'll bring things on- it might appear to do nothing for you like me. hopefully it'll make things nice and functional at the birth and afterwards though.

[Jo+3]

I drank rlf tea from 36 weeks with my second and third pregnancies. I must be strange as I actually liked the taste. It brought on bh for me and both my vbac births were 1hr 45min at 39 and 38 weeks.

[alittlegrubi]

My naturopath recommended 1 cup a day for weeks 28 to 32 and then 1 cups a day from then on. Well it took until week 31 to find the tea - and I too must be strange as I like it and coud happily drink it all day if I wasn't concerned about it bringing on an early arrival which I do not want.

Anyway, because DS was 3 weeks early without any intervention and the labour from waters breaking to birth was around 12 hours with only 5 hours of contractions and less than 3 of serious labour pain, I've only started with 1 cup every other day or 1 cup each day using the same tea bag for two cups and I have noticed BH have started and thinking maybe I should wait a few more weeks before having the tea - like until week 36.