[Submitted Question]

I am 28 weeks pregnant. Someone told me that drinking red raspberry leaf tea would make for an easier labor and delivery. When should I start drinking it and how much per day?

[WombToBloom]

Red raspberry leaf tea is very high in an assortment of nutrients including calcium, iron, and B vitamins, all of which are very important during pregnancy. The herb also contains a variety of chemicals -most of which have yet to be identified- that produce a direct effect on the pregnant uterus. They have been shown to strengthen the uterine wall, relax smooth muscle, and help to make delivery easier and speedier by helping the uterus contract more efficiently.

Historically women have taken raspberry leaf tea throughout their pregnancies up to and including childbirth. Many mothers extol this herb's ability to make childbirth easier and less painful. Drink one to three cups of red raspberry leaf tea daily, starting in your third trimester. You can also make ice cubes out of the tea and suck on the ice chips during the pregnancy.

[Knoxville Doula]

One of the advantages to taking it is an easier postpartum recovery as well. You won't go wrong drinking it

[labor doula]

Make sure it is raspberry LEAF not raspberry flavor

[roknrbn1]

I drank red raspberry leaf tea all during my last pregnancy to thwart morning sickness. My labor was so easy it was not progressing. The doctor eventually broke the bag of waters but it repaired itself in seconds. Later he tried again and had to put about 5 holes in it. About a quart of water came out & we took a break for a mop to come in. We were all laughing. After the delivery he showed me the placenta & the veins supplying my healthy baby were gigantic like ship ropes. He said he had never seen such a healthy placenta. I never told him I took the herb, but my labor nurse guessed. She also assisted home births and had seen this placenta phenomenon before. She said it was the red raspberry leaf tea.

[laboroflovedoula]

I have always heard it is like a uterine strengthener- like helping your uterus do "push ups" and be strong in labor... keeping the muscle from tuckering out in a long labor. I do not think it would hurt- and certainly if it can do that- it would be beneficial. There are rarely tests done on something that is not going to bring some money to the end result of the test... kwim? So I doubt it will be studied by anyone but anecdotally midwives swear by it!

[Nicolexx]

I really don't know about Raspberry Tea ... Thanks for all of sharing your own experiences with us.