Red Raspberry Leaf Tea: yes or no?

[jnezmama02]

Ok, w/ Jessie and Emily, I never took any "natural" remedies during pg.  However, I keep reading that people recommend red raspberry leaf tea to "tone" the uterus. But, I've read both good and bad things about it and am a bit concerned about using it.  One of my issues during labor w/ both girls was that it was really slow b/c my contrax weren't as productive as most people I think.  I'm not interesting in "inducing" labor...just when my body goes into labor, I want it to be as effective as possible.  Would this tea help w/ that w/o inducing met?  How does the tea taste? 

Anyone know much about it?  Jenn?

[moogie]

i used raspberry leaf tea in mild doses leading up to both births.  It basically tones you up to make those contractions more effective when it comes down to it.  what negative things have you heard?  From what i know it doesn't induce you.  you make get increased braxton hicks but thats preparatory contractions anyway.

[JenBerry]

True, red raspberry leaf tea will NOT induce you.  All it is is a uterine tonic (I think it tones other involuntary muscles as well) so that your uterus can work as well as possible when it comes time for the birth.  After all, it's not like you can exercise the thing to make it work better!  The RRLT may make you have more Braxton Hicks, but that would only be b/c they are part of the toning process.  Contracting is "exercise" for lack of a better word, and the more kids you have the more you need that exercise to keep your uterus from overstretching.

I say take it, either the tea or in supplement pills.  It tastes like any other herbal tea, IMO, but I think you're supposed to drink something like 4 cups per day and that was always way too much for me to take in.  The pills were easier for me.

Jen

[jnezmama02]

Thanks, ladies!  I guess the negative thing I read was more of a warning label not to use it when p/g...which I thought was funny b/c that's the only time I've ever heard anyone reference it, lol.  Luckily (unluckily) for me, I've been having BH since the beginning of the 2nd trimester...so my uterus is getting in lots of practice already, lol...but, I figure if I can make my body work even more effectively, that's even better.    I guess I'll pick some up this weekend when I go shopping.

[ShannonandDel]

Hope, I can't believe you are so far along already! He is almost here!

[JenBerry]

If you're looking for another thing to make labor easier you might look into Evening Primrose Oil.  It's an oil sold in capsules like Vit E, and you can take it orally or as a vaginal suppository starting at 37-38 weeks to get your cervix ready.  EPO, like semen, breaks down into prostaglandins, which help soften and ripen the cervix.  It will NOT induce you, but it can help your cervix make better use of contrax and open more easily because it sort of "loosens things up".  Just like the RRLT it's not a big big difference, but every little bit counts.

Oh, for dosage.  Most midwives I've talked to say that AFTER 37 WEEKS you can take up to 3 orally and 3 as suppositories each day.  To do a suppository you wait until just before you're going to lay down to sleep (not read in bed, but get completely horizontal and sleep), wash your hands, poke a needle hole in each capsule, and then try to insert them as far into your vagina, as close to your cervix, as you can get.  They'll dissolve overnight, so some mamas like to wear a pantyliner just to catch any excess oil.  That's it!

Jen