is it actually worth taking RLT either tablets or tea?!?!?!?!?!?!!?
i didnt take any last time but considering it this time.
what the general concensus on it? do i bother?
IMO i would say yes !! my exp was a vbac , and i was taking RLT since the begging of 3rd tri ... i reckon it strenghted my uterus as my labour was only 7.5 hrs and then 30mins of pushing (so 8 hrs all up)
i had very strong BH's which can happen with taking RLT .. but in saying that they were strong enough to give me a short (ish for 1st time) labour ..i was back into shape and my uteres shrunk very quickly and have had no problems !!
RLT will not send you into labour , just help with the strenghing of the muscles !!!
i dont think Evening primrose oil did any thing for me , but i did use them together !!
Hey hun, I found it did increase my BH quite alot and they were quite regular and ouchy and I didn't start taking the RLT until 34 weeks. I then started the acupuncture though and he gave me traditional herbs to take that do the same thing. They do tone the uterus though and I know heaps of people who say that it makes labour shorter. Maybe start off with small amounts of the tea and build up. With Izzy I took tabs and they did nothing, this time I drank the tea and felt BH right away so you could have a half cup of tea and build up. If you find they are too strong and annoying you can always cut back or stop.
Red raspberry leaf tea is a uterine tonic. It helps co-ordinate the uterus and strengthen it for effective contractions. So for women with an irritable uterus (lots of unproductive contractions that do not change the cervix) it can actually help. I take RLT from 20 weeks onwards to help combat the irritability which leads to constant runs of horrible contractions.
I read yesterday when researching actual clinically evidenced effects that RLT has a moderate impact if at all on the duration of 1st stage of labour, but can shorten the 2nd stage.
I didn't take it, tried the tea (didn't know about the tablets at the time) but couldn't stand the taste...blurgh, so after 2 tries at drinking it gave up. My labour (VBAC - first labour - didn't go into labour with first bub) was 3 1/2 hours. By the time I realised it was it I was already about 5 mins apart. So, for me I don't think I'll bother taking it this time either. I already have BH's enough now...lol.
Where can i buy the Raspberry Leaf TEA from? Health food stores? I've been tossing up what to do about this for weeks.... going to ask my Acupuncturist in a week what i should do.
Yep, health food stores should either have it, or be able to order it in. We've always used loose leaf and an infusor, but I have seen RL teabags as well.
DW has taken it for both pregnancies - first labour was around 4 hours from established, second labour was almost exactly four. She'll definitely be using it again.
Ren, I never had a drama getting it from my health food shop. I too mostly had it in loose leaf form, but also had some teabags, for when I went out all day etc. I'm a bit of believer in using the 'real deal' with stuff like this. IMO chances are it's going to work better. Of course, that could be a crock, it's JMO . I'm sure the tablets work well too.
Another benefit of using the tea is that it works out HEAPS cheaper It is an acquired taste, I found having it with honey helped at the start, but as time went on I got used to it and didn't need the honey anymore. I did drink it for a long time though, as it can help with milk production too, and I had some issues with that.
I got mine at a health food store as well. I used the little pillow bags you can get at Tea Two to make up the cup. Added honey does help with the flavour but luckily I got to drink chinese herbs that taste a leetle bit like dirt not long after!! You can also get a tincture made up by a naturopath - Im pretty sure that's what SamiH took.
ok bought some tea yesterday.....what am i doing wrong!!!! there is bearly a taste to it!!! i was
thinking it was horrible i use 1tsp in an infuser i a cup of boiling water for 10 mins, it that right?
I bought some tablets today from my local chemist. Blackmore's have a bottle of 84 tablets for under $10. I asked about the tea and they said to visit the health food shop but it was closed today, not sure I really want the tea if it tastes horrible though.
Last edited by mellsy7; December 26th, 2008 at 07:31 PM.
I bought the RLT from a health shop and i have been having one to two cups a day for the past few days, i hate hot drinks, i hate tea etc but i actually find this one is fine, i add a bit of honey and its not so bad at all, for me to actually drink a whole cup let alone two is a miracle. dont know if its doing anything but at least im getting water into me as well if anything.
Ive researched a bit online and they say that the tablets dont do anything with the tests they have performed, only the tea, the real stuff that is.
I put about a tsp into an infuser for about 10 minutes and then have my drink, sometimes i think it helps me to relax a little bit too but who knows, could all be in the mind
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RLT- worth taking?
. I'm sure the tablets work well too.
It is an acquired taste, I found having it with honey helped at the start, but as time went on I got used to it and didn't need the honey anymore. I did drink it for a long time though, as it can help with milk production too, and I had some issues with that.
i use 1tsp in an infuser i a cup of boiling water for 10 mins, it that right?
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