Raspberry Leaf Tea/Tablets

[becus]

Raspberry Leaf Tea or Tablets are an old wives tale for helping strengthen uterine contractions during labour, as well as a number of other uses.
I didn't use it with my first baby and had a long 16 hour labour that needed a push along towards the end.
I took the tablets with my second and had a short 6 hour labour (with only 1hr of intensity) with very very strong contractions right from the beginning. Maybe it was a conincidence but I felt the tablets actually were the reason!
There is no research on the effects of these herbs on the unborn baby but what harm could there be....? I mean we eat all kinds of things these days that are far worse for instance pesticide ridden fruit and vegies and alcohol and passive smoking and you name it.
But I fully believe these tablets worked and will recommend them to anyone I know who wants a short YET HARD labour. Better than a long labour that seems to go on for ever.

[pickles]

I couldnt use them during my first pregnancy as they just made me too uncomfortable ( many braxton hicks) The second time around i was overdue and drank at least 3 cups a day. Still didnt put me into labour but once i got there ( after waters broken medically ) only had 1.5 hour labour.

pickles
DD 02/03
DS 03/05

[Wivi]

My OB recommended the raspberry leaf tablets from 30 weeks and I took them and had a very quick 2 hour labour. They have actually done studies on the effect of these tablets at Westmead Private Hospital in Sydney.

I highly recommend them! They are also proven to assist with the healing and recovery post delivery.

[squiglet]

I'm taking my RL Tablets. :fingerscrossed: they work!

I can't see the harm in trying them anyway. We do eat much worse things in our diet and think nothing of it.

There is a thread on this in the 'When are you due?' section under April 2007.

[FourAngelKisses]

I've been umming and ahhing about taking them. I just don't know if they will do me any good seeing as this is my 4th baby.

My other labours were 9hrs, 3hrs (with 17hrs of unestablished labour beforehand) and about 9.5hrs long. So not all that long really. Might give them a go though.

[dannii]

i took them with my 3rd baby. wow!!! i recommend them for sure.

i hardley felt my contractions as i think the RLT really helped!was such an easy birth. and i had a 9lb 8 baby. my biggest so far. and thats with having a 7 year break from my last baby.
if/when i have another bub i will definately try RLT again :yes:

[MrsMiggins]

There is a lot of info going around that suggests there has been no research & no studies into the effects & reported benefits of using raspberry leaf (in either tea or tablet form), however this is not actually the case. If you google it (and select the "Australia/NZ" search option), you will find that there have been at least 2 relatively recent studies done in Australia. Both of which incidentally, support the use of raspberry leaf during the last weeks of pregnancy. One is a fairly small-scale but well performed & controlled study, while the other is a larger study.

I've used it for both my PG's and while I've not yet experienced labour, I had no problems whatsoever with excessive bleeding after my c/s in 2005, and my uterus contracted remarkably well.

[spring]

My mum didn't take them when she was pregnant with me & had a 16 hour labour then 16 years later she took them when pregnant with my brother & she had an extreamlt easy 3.5 hour labour.

I took them from about 17 weeks & I too had a very easy 2 hour labour.

[monkeytoes]

I wish it had helped me!!!!
I drank 3 cups of rasberry leaf tea every day for the last 6 weeks of my pregnancy and I had a 36 hour labour!!! :(

[FourAngelKisses]

I wish it had helped me!!!!
I drank 3 cups of rasberry leaf tea every day for the last 6 weeks of my pregnancy and I had a 36 hour labour!!! :(

All the research I have done has said that the tea itself is useless and that the tablets work.

[connorlulu]

All the research I have done has said that the tea itself is useless and that the tablets work.

Wish I'd known that when I had DS. I was drinking the tea, went 10 days over and had to be induced, and STILL had to have a caesar 35 hours later!

[buddy2129]

i started using them at 32 weeks for this pregnancy, and i have noticed an increase in the braxton hicks. I had to have an emergency c section with DD & had a 36hr labour with DS resulting in a forceps delivery. I really do not want to go down either of those paths again so im trying the rasp leaf tablets. I too was told that the tablets are more potent than the tea. Fingers crossed that they work and i have an easier labour and birth this time around..

[bearsmummy]

I took the tablets with DS2 and DS3 .... i personally dont think they worked.... but what works for one may not work for another i say :)

[lilBoofD]

I thought they also helped baby to come on time. I took them with DD and she was a day early, with a 4 hour labour. I kinda took them when I remembered with DS and he was 9 days late and a 5 hour labour (but he was a bit stuck). I am taking them again this time, but again when I remember, lol, so we'll see.

[MilkOnTap]

I've used it for both my PG's and while I've not yet experienced labour, I had no problems whatsoever with excessive bleeding after my c/s in 2005, and my uterus contracted remarkably well.

I was wondering about the usage of Raspberry leaf when your having a c/sect... Thanks for answering this!

I'm 28 weeks - is it too early to begin taking it??

[harvey123]

i took them once i was actually overdue. opinion seems to vary but i'd wait until a bit closer to your due date. i found they gave me really strong braxton hicks. in that "what to expect when you're expecting" book they say only to take them towards the very end to be safe. i ended up having a c/s anyway but they are also meant to help your uterus recvoer from pregnancy.

[prideNJoy]

Im 33 weeks yesterday, can anyone recommend a good brand of RL tablets? I wouldnt mind giving it a go.
After doing 16 hours of unestablished labour and then a further 35 hours of labour with the last three being hard labour i wouldnt mind cutting that back a bit this time around !:fingerscrossed:

[cobysmummy]

i have the blackmores brand, i could only find them at the health food store... and it says to take 2 tablets with meals 3 times a day in the last trimester...

i havent taken them every day but im going to try and start being religious about it coz i want to cut down from my previous 26 hour labour!!!

[MrsDribbleDrawers]

blackmores is about the only brand I could find, too. Only took them twice a day (water made me throw up, so avoided it when necessary), and have no way of knowing if they worked or not, 2hr8min labour after artificial rupture of membranes. Will use them again next time, though, no harm done!

[prideNJoy]

ok so I got DF to buy me some Blackmores tabs on the way past the shops, so Ive taken two and popped them on the window sill in the kitchen so i remember to take them (since i clean the kitchen everyday i dont think i'll forget) :laughing:

[YoungMumSteph]

Ive just started taking the Blackmores RL tablets too. I had a 50hour labour with DS so hoping to cut that down abit!

[prideNJoy]

YoungMumSteph i so know how that feels:hugs: i laboured in total for 51 hours, so im willing to try anything to make sure i dont feel like a zombie when it's over this time. :fingerscrossed:

[OopsieDaisy]

I took nothing at all with dd1 and had a 5 hr labour, took raspberry leaf with dd3 and had an 11+ hour labour and over 2 weeks of pre labour :thumbsdown:

[Dellibelli]

I found the "natures own" brand of RLT tablets were cheaper and generally better than the blackmores ones. (In the past I only used Blackmores and no other brand).

Also you did not have to take as many tablets to get the same dosage.

I am also taking EPO tablets, Iron and Elevit vitamins... so that's a lot of pills to take through the day!

I didn't start RLT tablets till 32 weeks either.

Have had a great pregnancy and due on Tuesday with my OB saying my cervix is great.

Can't say taking them has given me BH either.

Good Luck!

[sierrasmum]

I tried the RLT for my first pregnancy and had a really short but intense labour, 6 hours with no gaps in contractions from when they started and only a 15 min second stage!. Because it was my first I have no idea whether I would have given birth this quick without them but im told its unusual to give birth this quick for the first one.