Rasberry leaf....

**poshBecks** · 18-11-2005 16:35

Okay, so I am nearlly 36 wks preggers & am thinking of taking rasberry leaf tablets to hopefully bring on labour a smidge early & make labour a lot easier than 1st time around!!

What are everyone's thoughts....do you think it helped you?

**Sarie** · 18-11-2005 16:40

I tried it for both my pregnancies but it didn't really seem to work for me. But I think it's like anything else what works for some doesn't always work for others. I think it's also like the whole sex thing, your body has to be pretty much ready to go before it helps. But hey I was desperate and I tried pretty much everything in the book!!!
Good luck!

**wattle** · 18-11-2005 16:45

If you're going to give it a try, I'd recommend the tablets over the tea......... unless you like icky tasting tea.

It's pretty hard to say for sure how much difference they make, but I took the tablets and will do so next pregnancy too. I think they aid in preparation for delivery as well as many other things. I'm sure you'll get the whole rundown here though.

**JanetF** · 18-11-2005 16:48

It's more of a tonic to help your uterus work at peak efficiency in labour. Try these for lots of help

http://gentlebirth.org/Midwife/herbs.html

http://midwiferytoday.com/enews/enews0109.asp

Because red raspberry leaf provides dual qualities as mild stimulant and gentle relaxant, it has a regulating effect on the uterus. The leaves contain an alkaloid known as fragerine, which relaxes and strengthens the uterus and tones the pelvic muscles. Raspberry remains one of the safest and most effective herbs for use in the entire course of pregnancy. A recommended use of this tea is one cup three times daily in the first trimester, one to two cups three times daily in the second trimester, and two to three cups three times daily through the third trimester and postpartum. A few women have found they are especially sensitive to red raspberry's toning effect in the first trimester and tend to have too much uterine stimulation. If red raspberry is being used and uterine cramping is experienced in the first trimester, it is best to use less of it, or to stop using this herb altogether until later in the pregnancy. Raspberry can, however, have reasonable success in preventing miscarriage and hemorrhage, so careful history taking and evaluation on the part of the care provider is important. -Linda Lieberman in The Birthkit Issue No. 6 (a Midwifery Today publication)

**melfunction** · 18-11-2005 16:49

Ok, my advice is to think carefully. This is not to scare you. Just my experience.

I took the tablets and had a 2 hour labour with my first. Some say lucky you, but I don't agree.
I had an almost 9lb baby and got a grade 3 tear. My body went into shock and I shook uncontrollably for 3 weeks.
I didn't get time to get use to the pain, so I sucked on gas for an hour during birth.
I had flashbacks for a month and didn't get any milk at all. Still a bit confused about that one.

Sorry if this freaks you out

**poshBecks** · 18-11-2005 16:50

Thanks for the info JanetF...are you a doctor or something coz you seem to know an awful lot of info about baby's, birth & pregnancy!!
It's amazing!!

**poshBecks** · 18-11-2005 16:52

Originally Posted by kaidensmum

Ok, my advice is to think carefully. This is not to scare you. Just my experience.

I took the tablets and had a 2 hour labour with my first. Some say lucky you, but I don't agree.
I had an almost 9lb baby and got a grade 3 tear. My body went into shock and I shook uncontrollably for 3 weeks.
I didn't get time to get use to the pain, so I sucked on gas for an hour during birth.
I had flashbacks for a month and didn't get any milk at all. Still a bit confused about that one.

Sorry if this freaks you out

WOW!!
That's horrible, I'd be happy with a labour that is somewhat shorter than 23 hours!!! Not nessasarily THAT short though!! OUCH!!

**cosmic** · 18-11-2005 16:54

oooohhhh...

Janet - I was interested in your article because I asked about raspberry leaf ages ago and got fairly strong responses that indicated I should steer clear in early pregnancy. I'm almost 18 weeks.. do you think it would be ok to have a small amount now? (I guess the question is more would it be beneficial to start taking it early on).

And Kaidensmum..

is all I can say!!

**faery** · 18-11-2005 17:04

hi mama's

red respberry leaf tea is not used to bring on labour, it is used to strengthen the uterus.

the tea does not taste that bad. I mix it with earl grey and have a cup every morning.

I'm five months now and have been drinking it everyday for a month. when the third trimester comes, I'll be upping the intake to at least 2 -3 cups per day.

If you have other herbal queries, just ask. My partner is a qualified herbalist and is happy to pass on information, cause there is a lot of mis-info out there about the usage and safety of herbs.

happy drinking!

**poshBecks** · 18-11-2005 17:09

Uh huh!! So faery, I've heard of a lot of women going into labour prematurely when they've taken them too early, thats why i've been waiting until now!!!??? Is it true?