What is Raspberry leaf tea?

Question

Ive heard a lot about raspberry leaf tea lately, can it help bring on labour? Will it have any side effects like diarrhoea or sickness like ive heard about other things like castor oil?

Also ive been having a lot of braxton hicks contractions and im only 31 weeks gone, is this normal? They are painful and keep me awake at nite a lot of the time?

Answer 1

Hi I got some raspberry leaf tea tablets when I reached 38 weeks, as you are not suppose to be able to take them before 32 weeks as the effects they have on the uterus.

Apprantly they dont help to induce to start labour or start labour early, they just help the uterus contract once in labour and the second stages of labour it can make it shorter and the less likly to have a forceps/ventous delivery or tearing etc,

I dont know weather there are any side effects etc, as I havent had any so far and I cannot say weather they help or not but I hve terrible heartburn and I was blaming it on the raspberry leaf tea so I havent been taking them this week, but I dont know weather that was the cause as I have still got it, when I was taking it I got lots of braxton hicks and they have eased down now, but they have stopped so maybe they do work.

Im going to get back on taking them, I am currently 39 weeks today and want to get him moving lol  

Answer 2

Apparently it brings on labour but it is not proven. You are not advised to take it before 32 weeks.

=) x

Answer 3

Raspberry leaf tea and tablets is recommended to be taken from 32 weeks.  It doesn't bring on labour however it softens the cervix ready for labour which is why you take it from so early.  I took raspberry leaf tea and tablets with my first pregnancy and will be taking them again this time around too!

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/re...

Braxton hicks happen from about 20 weeks so it is normal but if it gets too painful you should ask your midwife.

Answer 4

Raspberry leaf tea is said to bring on contractions but I used it for ages and it did nothing - I also tried Clary sage Oil (only try this once you are due) and that didn't do much either. The best thing for bringing on contractions when you are due is to walk and walk and walk. The Tea had no side effects but it tasted horrid. Castor oil will give you the runs.

Braxton hicks can be painful but it is just your uterus tightening and loosening in practise. Good luck for you and your baby :o)

Answer 5

It is tea brewed from raspberry leaves, and it supposedly can soften the mucus plug at the opening of the cervix and bring about starting contractions which could start of your labour.

Some women say they have used it and it benefits them.  

Castor oil was the main thing when my mum was expecting and worked in her sneaky plot to have me on my brother's birthday (he was 2 and not impressed) - but I hear it does give you diarrhoea and I can well imagine it makes you sick - YUK!  If you're only at 31, I wouldn't advise bringing labour about just yet, hang on as much as you can.

Good luck.

Answer 6

Braxton hicks are normal, my son is now 2 and he was born 8 days late, i was desparate to go into labour and tried everything, hot baths, hot curry's long walks EVERYTHING!! i also took rasberry leaf tablets, onlt to be disapointed at the hospital when my mid wife told me that none of these things work and the baby will only actually come out when its ready! Try things if you think it will help but to tell you the truth i thing it all in the mind!

Answer 7

Raspberry naturally relaxes your muscles.

Answer 8

I drank Raspberry Leaf tea from about 34 weeks, i drank 4 cups a day and its seems to be unusal but i really liked it!! Anyway i know it isnt to induce labour but speed it up once it has started and my labour was induced by having my waters broken and my baby was delivered 1 hour later! My other 2 deliveries took 20 and 18 hours and i did not drink the tea with them so if i ever get pregnant again i will be drinking it !  

Answer 9

Raspberry leaf tea is basically a herbal tea made with raspberry leafs. It is supposed to help bring on labour. I tried it with my last pg but can't really say if it worked or not. I was late when I started trying it and eventually gave birth but that could have been just coincidence.

It never gave me any side effects whatsoever.

Braxton Hicks at 31 weeks sounds quite normal (your are quite late on!). I would speak to your midwife about them though.

All the best

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_raspber...

Answer 10

You can get raspberry leaf tea from your local health food shop. It relaxes the muscles ready for labour. You can take it from about 35 weeks onwards. I took it when I had my son and I really believe it helped speed up the labour. It doesn't cause sickness or diarrhoea.  If your braxton hicks are painful you should speak to your midwife about it, she will advise you. Good luck x

Answer 11

There is a ton of conflicting information about raspberry leaf tea.  I have read that it brings on labor and I have also read that it won't bring on labor it only tones your uterus.  From those who say it tones the uterus, some say to take it throughout your whole pregnancy and some say to take it only in your last trimester.  Very confusing, I know.