I got the tablets less than a week prior to having DS2 (maybe too late to help my body prepare for labour). I went into the local Health Food shop and i was told that the tablets will absorb much better and one tablet will be equivalent to about 8 cups to the tea. I was told you needed to drink a lot of the tea to get any bennefit from taking it at all. I continued to take the tablets after the birth of my son until the jar was finished as i was told it helps a lot with post birth also.