I am planning my 2nd VBAC in about 5/6 weeks. (I had to change hospitals to do it, but I can't wait!!). I tore slightly with my son's vbac in 1999 (my first labour). I am wondering whether I should try rasberry leaf tea and Epi-No to help with labour and to prevent tearing?
Who's had experience with these (one or both)? Also, are the rasberry leaf tablets as good as the tea itself?
I used raspberry leaf tea before my first labour - I still got a 2nd degree tear. I took it to try and induce labour but not sure if that helped or not but I did go into labour at 39 weeks. I had a 40 hour labour because my baby was posterior so I am not sure if it helped my uterus to contract better or whatever it is meant to do. OP babies make things a bit different though, I think.
I figured that there is no harm in drinking the tea (except that you have to have a few cups of it everyday and sometimes I just did not feel like it). I'm not sure how the tablets compare.
Sorry - probably not an overly useful post ... hopefully someone else has some better info :)
It's good to hear all responses, positive or not. That way I can make an informed decision. :) Thanks Townsvillegirl!
I cant really comment from personal experience - I ended up with emerg c/s after 36 hours labor lol but there is an essential oil you can use on your perineum that will also help prevent tearing, helps to soften the skin for birth etc...
There is some posts I made ages ago in here Herbal Treatments in the Final Weeks
lots of info so I wont re-type it :)
HTH and good luck with your 2VBAC!!
I used Rasperry leaf tea. I tried to make sure i had a few cups a day.
My bub was 10 days late, i had a natural birth and labour of 55 minutes, bub was born posterior and i had no tearing.
I used the raspberry leaf tea tablets. I went to our local health food store at about 38 weeks to buy the tea and i was told by the ladies in the store that tablets are more effective, you take one morning and evening whereas with the drink you'd have to have at least 8 cups a day to have the same effect.
I then questioned if it was worth buying them as it was $20 a bottle and i was so close to the end anyway but they also said it's good to take after birth as it helps the uterus contract back down.
I have no info or experience in the vbac side of things. Good luck though :)
Can't comment on the epi-no, I have been very fortunate to have avoided any tearing or stitches both births. I did however have 'success' with RLT. I drank at least 3-4 cups a day and gradually increased that as I approached my EDD (I doubt I ever drank as many as 8 though). My first labour was long and drawn out, 72 hours. My second was only 5 from first niggle to birth.
I will say though that my second labour was much, much more intense and I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not!
I drank RLT and the Epi-No but cannot comment on their effectiveness due to birth issues. RLT is just meant to tone the uterine muscles so I figured nothing wrong with taking it but one could never measure whether it worked or not becauseyou don't know how it would have been otherwise, ikywim? Regarding the Epi-No, I was recommended it by the Bith Centre I attended after they saw the benefits of its use. I used it over about a 10 week period prior to birth and it was very painful pushing it at 3cm to start with but by 40 weeks I could do the 10cm although it wasn't a walk in the park. So it really did help the muscles to stretch. To cut a long story short I laboured36 hours from first contraction to birth, stopped dilating at 7cm, had an epidural and needed forceps to get bubby. Thus cannot comment on how effective Epi-No was but I swear by it for what it did in the lead up and will def use this time around.
I bought some tablets today...which I find will last me about a week (going by the instructions...take 3 tablets 4/5 times a day!!) Cost around $10-11 for little bottle. Not sure I could drink a lot of tea either though.... Maybe I'll mix it up a bit with both lol. The tablets have a horrid taste to them...glad to swallow them quickly down. Is the tea a horrid drink? or is it pleasant enough?
I have decided to order the epi-no..what the heck. Anything the helps... I figure the price is worth it if I don't tear or don't tear as much as i might have..
I had the tea (I think it's bloody awlful) started at 34wks on one cup a day for a week then 2, up to 3 by 36wks.
DS was induced at 36wks due to preclampsia but I was already 4cm dilated (had being having mild cramping for a a few days) labour was 5hrs with syntocin
DD was induced with ARM 4 days over as again I was 3-4cm dilated and was over being pg (long story) drank 4 cups the day before induction was up most of the night with braxtons and prelabour, waters "probably" broke that morning before induction as there was nothing there and bub was born 3 1/2 hrs from ARM 2 hrs after contract became regular
For me, I reckon the RLT worked but I wouldn't recommend the 4cups labour was extremely intense!
I really can't see myself drinking 4 cups of stuff I hate.. But I will maybe manage a couple.. Maybe I will stick to the tablets..or both. My son was born 2 hours after a drip inserted into my arm (syntocin?) because my waters had slowly leaked out and contractions had died down. He came out pretty fast. The midwife never had time to check my dilation! (the only check I had done was when the drip went in..I was 3cm then!). I gave birth standing up leaning over the bed! The midwife wanted me to get up on the bed..and I was like "Ok...and then NOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooo!" (contractions too painful). The labour was very stop/start at the beginning, and the hospital (different one) for this birth, won't induce labour...so i hope that labour starts better this time round (2nd time too...I may get lucky). I plan to stay home a bit before going in.
Cathy - it was dreadfully hard to stomach but I really wanted to go into labour naturally :-) I used to make the tea,let it cool and either scull it down or mix it with juice (but then you had to drink twice as much cause it was diluted :-)
I don't even like green tea without milk LOL. Gonna be hard for me. Maybe I will let it cool and scull down LOL.
Have you tried the tea? It is actually quite pleasant. The first sip was unusual, but after that I really like it. You can add sugar to it too.
ETA I HATE green tea lol :)
No, I've never had the tea before. I hope I like it! I will buy some soon.
Not sure if it was just a coincodence but i went into labour at 39 weeks just a few days after taking the RLT tablets :dunno:
I used to add a little sugar, let it cool and then drink it down quickly. It's not great but really not too bad either, I didn't mind it in the end.
I started drinking the tea at appx 32 weeks - I also drank nettle tea on the advice of my midwife ( i love the stuff now! ).
We also did perenium massage.
Labour from waters breaking to birth was 1.5 hours - and very intense! I did have a slight tear and didnt really need a stitch but had one anyway.
My first baby I had no idea about RLT - that was a 15 hour labour....... so yes, I do think the RLT made a difference :) GL hun!!!
Well I got some RLT today! And just tried my first cup! I liked it! :) (and I usualy don't like tea without milk).
I used a tiny bit of honey to sweeten it. Very nice. I can easily drink this a few times a day. I might take the tablets as well, just to substitute for once a day when I don't feel like drinking the tea.
yay!
Hope it helps :) Remember it is actually really good for uterine preperation, so dont worry if you dont go into labor form all this glorious tea ;) It is working anyway!
Kitt3n, How many weeks were you when you went into labour? I`ve bought some tablets but I just dont want to go premature. Could I start taking them now? What does nettle tea do? sorry for all the Qs these herbal things are all new to me.:
Cheers
Nice to read all the posts, I am planning on using the tea but don't know when to start, or if it is suitable when planning a VBAC?
Cathy, will be very keen to hear how it goes for you!
Best of luck :)
Jasp - RLT is not going to put you into labour, and is perfect for a VBAC.
RLT is very simply used for uterine preparation. You can drink it throughout you pregnancy and will not send you in to pre-term labor or anything crazy, unless you were already going to go into labor - it is not really an induction tool, except that it will help to soften the uterus ready for contractions, and allow the bubs to engage and move down lower.
This wont happen until your bubba is ready and of a certain size anyway though iykiwm.
So if it were me for a VBAC I would go the RLT anytime from where you are now, 1-2 cups a day will be more than enough, and then around your due date, up it to 4-5 cups a day.
HTH
:)
I started taking the RLT capsules at about 38 weeks and ended up going into labour on my due date (our girl was born the next day)
I also used the epi-no from about 37 weeks and still ended with a small cut because my OB thought I was going to tear upwards but our girl had a big head:lol:
I will use it again because it helped towards me feeling in control as I knew I'd done as much preparation as I could and it was a considerable outlay
I asked my mother her take on these two things. Raspberry tea leaf, and evening primrose oil. She has her PHD in nutrition and specializes in supplements and holistic nutrition. So here is what I learned.
Raspberry Tea Leaf-
It can be taken as early as 32 weeks pregnant. Some say earlier though due to the fact it can not cause pre term labor. The RLT is used to tone the uterine muscles. It can help you with labor and contractions. It can also help with bleeding afterwards and help shrink your uterus back down to size. It can also help with breast feeding to make your milk plentiful. It can not help you go into labor early this is a old wives tale. there are two ways to take this. I suggest the tablets as you only need two a day. But if you are a tea drinker go ahead you need at least 8 cups a day to get the job done.
Evening Primrose Ol-
this can be taken orally from 34 weeks on and vaginally 36-38 weeks on. You can also just get the oil and use it for a perineum massage. This helps your cervix to soften and prepare for effacement and dilation. It has also been known to help prevent tearing.
Ladies I strongly urge you to take these two things as I will. They are both completely natural and safe.
I used RLT and I had pretty good labours, fairly quick, no tears.....BUt I attribute that to my babies all being in the 6lb category ;) I don't think it has anything to do with the RLT.
I used RLT and EPO (when I remembered) for my last preg - and I will do so this time too...
My labout was just under 4 hrs, I did have a tear but it wasnt bad.. no idea if it helped but it certainly didnt hinder... worth a shot I say.
in fact i better get out and get my tea today so i can start drinking (though i dont think i ever did 8 cups)