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:)
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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:)
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.
Hey Sue, there is another thread on raspberry leaf - I'll have a look for you :)
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...
oh yes, and if you've got problems with your uterus you shouldnt take it. get a clear from your ob/midwife
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.
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.
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...
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.
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!
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!
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!!
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! :p
My OB said to take it after 35 weeks!
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.
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
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 ???) !!!! :dance:
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 :bellygrowing:
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.
Ohh, does it lessen the chances of haemorrhages? That could be good this time round then...maybe I'll just start it late? How long do you need to take it for, for it to have any effect?
Oh no Nelle, I have no idea! I don't think it does. I was just referring to a comment made earlier in the thread.
Haha that's okay Sez, was just wondering is all! I should just keep my iron levels up if I can this time.
It's hard to prove if good labour is a result of the RLT or just coincidence. I took it last time and had an awesome labour experience so I will definitely be taking it again just in case!
My midwife was of the opinion that it can't hurt and might help so might as well give it a go.
I bought the tablets today (thinking it would be easier than brewing tea all the time) and the jar says 3 tabs 3 times daily. That seems like a lot. Should I be building up to that or something? I'm 35 weeks.
blackmore's says 3 tabs 4-5 times a day. I try to take 4x but sometimes i forget! It does seem a lot and you go thru a bottle so quickly.
Wow! Are they super cheap? I've started drinking the tea. Only remembering about 1 cup every 2 days at the moment... need to step it up soon. I don't mind the taste in the slightest- but then I always liked herbal teas.
I got the BM's at $6.60 at the Pharmacy Direct in Sydney. I've seen them at Harrison's for almost $10. each bottle has 84tabs
At Priceline they were $8.49 for a jar of 84. 3 tabs, 4 times daily means the jar is only going to last 7 days... I might start with 1 tab 4 times daily and build up from there.
Even with the tea, you're meant to have a few cups a day.
You can certainly build up to the recommended amount, but I wouldn't take too long about it, you don't have long to go! The tea certainly is a LOT cheaper (I buy a bag for $3 which would have about 60 cups worth in it) but trust me, you won't be concerned about the cost if it helps you to have a better, shorter, labour ;)
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Yeah, good point - I keep forgetting I don't have much time! I just took two now, will take another 2 with dinner and 2 before bed.
Here's the other thread - https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...ad.php?t=54548
I drank the tea (I usually drink it for AF anyway) and had a 13 hour labour. I think it was better for me in post labour
My midwife said to not begin taking RLT until my due date as it can bring on Labour...
I'm confused! I'll talk to my Ob at my next appt (11th Feb) to see what he says. But he's not very alternative so I think he'll say not to have it at all!
Arrrgggghhhhhh! :)
I think the general consensus is that RLT does NOT bring on labour. It just helps the uterus to contract more effectively.
Perhaps do your own research Nettie, so you feel comfortable with your decision.
Thanks Janie - that's one reason why I'm subscribed to this thread! Then I can get some alternative views to consider and thereby making my own decision. There isn't a whole lot of stuff you can read up on as it's either medical opinion saying 'there's no evidence it helps' or alternative views saying 'Do it!'. Not very helpful!
I just want to be sure I'm not doing any damage and that I won't be harming either of us if I begin taking it... I'm starting to think I need to take it soon because my body seems to be craving Raspberry flavoured things and the midwife said that even Raspberry cordial can have the same affect as RLT!!!
Um, RLT doesn't taste anything like Raspberry! And I'm struggling to believe that raspberry cordial could have the same effect.....but someone may prove me wrong ;) Good on you for looking things up for yourself though. Someone posted a study on RLT awhile ago, I'll see if I can find it for you.
As I said earlier in this thread, I really think that the RLT helped my labour....or at least it did us no harm. But I'm just one person :)
ETA Here is the link to that thread I mentioned https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...ad.php?t=54548 very interesting I think!
Hi Janie
I know that RLT doesn't taste like Raspberry (used to take it for period pain) and I couldn't see why raspberry cordial would have the same effect except that I always buy the 40% juice cordials - so maybe there's something about having so much juice?? Could be thereputic?!
Thanks for the link - I'll head off and read that now...
Hi Sue, well I took RLT (tablet form) and blitzed a 5 hour labour for my first! I was induced at 40w + 3days but when I went in, I was 2cm dilated already.
I really believe the RLT worked but I was also taking EPO and DTD a bit toward the end of my pregnancy. I even ate a whole pineapple a couple of days before I was induced!
Ok - I think I'm nearly convinced now. Think I'll start it at 32 weeks and see what happens.. I haven't had any BH yet so it'll be interesting to see if they start after I begin taking the RLT... will let you all know.
Thanks again Janie for the link.
You're welcome Nettie :). If you find that you get increased BHs (I did) to the point that they're bothering you, you can always just back off on the RLT a little bit.
Good luck hun, wishing you a wonderful labour and birth :D
I've been doing all kinds of research on various aspects of pg/birth since I found out I was pg, and it just amazes me the variety of contradictory information out there- not just on the internet/ from well-meaning grandmother types, but also from Obs and Midwives, who should bloody know this sort of stuff. Its like pg and birth are these huge mysteries. Heck, even my GP shrugged her shoulders at one point and told me that the best modern medicine really has to offer is damage control and "sheparding" a woman through... Weird. RLT seems to be a good example. I think I'll start taking it soon though.
hi there , with me the RLT worked extremely well, i started taking one tablet a day at 28 weeks but the end of 29 weeks i went into labour , the whole time i was taking them i could feel the contractions produced.since they have been able to keep my bub in there im not going to take them untill at leat 37 weeks again , ive drunk the tea the with my last 2 pregnancys and had them both on their due date. so i believe it works, just start on one as if your body is ready you will feel the effects , i know if i had have taken the recommended dosage of 3 3x a day , i would have def had my baby at 29 weeks so just becareful. good luck all the best