advice on raspberry leaf use

Hi girls,

Hoping someone can give me some advice. I'll also ask my doc when next i see her. BUT, I wanted to take raspberry leaf tea as recommended by our hospy midwives because it helps smooths and relax the cervix and can help the progression of labour.

However, my DH is away until 10 days before our due date (i'm 36weeks on sunday, he's home dec 4, due dec 14) and I'm nervous about doing anything that might bring bub early (no support here whatsoever so its vital dh is home).

I was going to just start taking the raspberry leaf tabs this week cos i didn't think it could actually bring on labour but the blackmores website says this: "Traditionally used during the third trimester of pregnancy to help prepare the uterus for labour and help facilitate childbirth."

So my question is - what would you do? would you take the tabs from now to help with the lovely natural birth you very much want? Or would you not take the chance it could prompt things to happen?

With dh coming home just 10 days before our EDD, would it be worth starting the tablets the week he is due home? or would they not be effective in such a short time frame?

thanks for reading and for any insights you may have.

Advice from my OB is that it's ok to start now. Her advice is that rasberry leaf tablets alone won't make things happen any earlier. They are more about preparation of the uterus than an actual induction technique.

It's when you combine raspberry leaf tablets with accupuncture and other natural induction techniques is when things *might* start to rock and roll. I reckon my baby will come when it's good and ready, despite all my preparation!

Hi Grub, I asked my midwife at my last appointment when I should start taking it after she suggested I take it to avoid using the gel for my induction, She said only for the week before I'm due to be induced.
I don't know if it would bring on labour early but maybe just wait till your DH is home to be on the safe side. My midi told me the week before was plenty of time for it to do it's job.
I'm glad you have asked this question though, I'm interested in what others have to say, maybe if I start it earlier I could beat an induction all together??

Just subscribing ;)

I would start 10 days before, maybe a week. They can be very strong, they can also make you feel yukky if you have too much. Go easy.

Nae, you might want to start on a couple of cups of the tea a day...

Ah, pregnant brain. I looked up again my OB's advice. The rest of it was to start taking them at 25% dose and work up to 2 tablets per day over 3-4 weeks.

I started taking them quite a bit earlier, can't quite remember when, but may have been around 32 or 34 weeks. I started off with the tea and then worked up to the tablets and gradually increased the dose. From memory the tablets recommended dose is quite high (2 or 3 tablets 3 times a day) so it took me quite a few weeks to work up to it.

I do remember one day where I had upped my intake quite a bit and I had a lot of braxton hicks. I don't think that they would bring on labour, as others have said they are more about preparing your uterus than stimulating it... If I was you I would probably start taking them now and gradually build them up. I think it does take quite awhile for them to do there job, so if you leave it too late to start you don't get the full benefit iykwim...

I took Raspberry Leaf Tea from 34wks pregnant and I believe it helped me to have a better labour.... I really do feel it prepared my cervix etc and I was having pre labour pains from 37wks onwards. I really do believe it helped. Although i went 7 days over dates, i believe my cervix was ripe and ready when i went into labour that day.

Good luck.

Just my experience & I'm sure it's different for everyone but...
all my bubs were late, I started the tea at about 26 weeks I think & the tablets at about 33 weeks. Along with everything else I tried :lol: (including acupuncture) she was still 10 days postdates. I did have some very strong BH; not sure if it was the RL, as my BH have been stronger with each subsequent pregnancy.

My understanding is that they won't send you into labour but will help in labour... but if you are worried about it for any reason I would take it easy on them anyway ;)

My OB asked me not to take it before 36 weeks.

thanks girs for your excellent responses. I definitely want to start taking RL. I'll talk to my middy tomoz but i think i'll start slowly next week (36w) and build up. DH gets home at 38 weeks so it shouldn't be too bad.

Mind you, bub is welcome to enter the world anytime after his daddy gets home lol.

:)

Great thread... I was wondering the same thing, and was going to start my own thread today...

Can I just hijack and ask, adding EPO into the mix... would you start EPO with the RLT so around 36-37w?

i started drinking the tea at almost 37 weeks, i was so ready to have her, but i wanted to wait til it was safe to have her, and anywher from 37 weeks is good :)
i had her at 38 weeks,
i too believe the tea helped my body prepare, i def recommend it, and i will def be using it again next time.

If i were you id wait til he's home, or even a day or 2 before, just to be on the safe side since u have no other support persons.

I to would like to know about RLT, I bought some the other day. Does anyone know how many cups per day should you be drinking at almost 37 weeks?

Just subscribing I'm interested in starting the tea too I'll stalk the thread for a bit...Hi Kanda:D

I bought the blackmores tablets and started them yesterday. I am starting early but am due for induction so from what i have read and asked it works to "prepare the uterus" and assist in "making the carvix more favourable" given i'm already thining and 1cm dilated i am hoping it might just help! It says on the bottle "use during third trimester after medical approval". Heres hoping!
No side effects, the dose of the tabs are 3 tabs 4-5 times/day with meals.
Yesterday i took 3 at lunch and 3 at dinner today so far i have had 3 at b'fast and 3 at lunch and will take more at tea.

Fingers crossed!!!

Bella

With the tablets, I took 2 or 3 daily, not sure how many mg they were.
The tea I think at 37 weeks you can pretty much have as much as you want - it's less concentrated than the tablets. I had up to 3 or so cups a day when I remembered, as well as the tablets. I had it with a teaspoon of honey & actually quite liked it :)
Also it is supposed to help with milk supply afterwards as well.

I started at 34 weeks and took 3 Blackmores tablets twice a day. It didn't bring on labour, DD2 was born at 40+5 weeks, but my labour was only 1 hour long so I think that maybe it did help me progress faster LOL But on the other hand my labour with DD2 was only 4 hours, so maybe it would have been fast anyway :dunno: My gut feeling is though that it helped :)

Good luck!

jumping in on this thread rather than starting my own.

Can you get the tea at woolworths....I had a quick look yesterday but couldn't find it?

Also has anyone had any probs with the tablets..........I just took 2 this morn with breakfast as it says & thew up everywhere.....even out of my nose LOL!!!!

I found I would feel very nauseous on the tablets, so I stopped and drank tea for a while. The tea didn't have the same effect on my tummy.

And I only got my tea from the health food store.

I threw up with the tablets as well. And just like Mel said, grab the tea from your health food shop. They probably do sell it at Woolies, but I haven't seen it.

I am fine with the tablets *touch wood* I only had them with a glass of OJ this morning, and no problems yet...

I live in the middle of "whoop whoop"....we don't have a Health Food store. I shall google it! I've thrown up & feeling very gross since, YUK didn't say anything about that on the packet!!! I threw up swallowing the 2nd tablet LOL instant reaction!

i started the tablets last week and am fine on them. :) but can also get the tea fro the health food shop. But i think you have to drink an awful lot of tea to equal a tablet. maybe try half tablets and slowly build up. xo