Herbal remedies to induce labor

Jlroberts57

our doc told us yesterday that red raspberry leaf tea-1 cup a day would help soften the cervix.  As well as 'Evening Primrose OIl' capsules, 2 caps in the vagina and 2 by mouth twice a day.  I kind of thought, 'uhhh, ok?  but ill do just about anything for this baby to come!" So i started this routine today and I'm hoping it works.  But has anyone heard of these remedies?  It did sound kind of strange to me but I'm sure some ladies have done stranger things...

sixpackjeanie

I was drinking a raspberry leaf, nettles, chamomile, and lemon grass herbal tea mix with local honey for my sinuses and was told that later on I would have to omit the raspberry leaf from the mixture because of that very reason So yeah. There are lots of natural ways to "induce".

maraclaire

I'm taking raspberry leaf tea and using evening primrose oil. Generally, everyone seems to agree that if your body isn't ready for labor, these herbs won't make a difference. Tthe idea is just to make delivery easier once it does come around - to prepare your body.

I have used RRL tea in the past for menstrual cramps and it really helped me, so I have a lot of faith in this herb. 

AmyLaurel89

These are great ways to prep your cervix but they won't exactly induce labor. I'm a few days over my due date so I'm doing the tea and EPO capsules to help avoid going so far past my due date that I would need to be induced by pitocin. But there is no guarentee that it will help me pop the baby out in X amount of days or hours. They are safe to try out though.

 

cookiemonster82

They are supposed to make labor/delivery easier by softening the cervix and toning the uterus.  I don't know about inducing labor, though.  I used both with DS1 (EPO 3x/day and RTL 3-4x/day).  I delivered him at 40 weeks exactly, but my labor was only about 7 hours.  I've been taking these herbal remedies since 36 weeks this time.  Now I'm 38 weeks and 3 days.  Hoping they help with my labor again!

MissBHaven1024

My midwife told me that RRL tea doesn't soften the cervix; it tones the uterus to help make the contractions consistent and strong once they start. EPO softens the cervix though, so those two things together should definitely help. 

My midwife told me to begin taking the RRL tea now (I'm 30 weeks), and to take the EPO at 37 weeks. I hope it helps! 

Also, have sex! As my mom likes to say "How you get a baby in there is how you get a baby out!"  

VABride2008

Sperm...get busy!

Jlroberts57

Im not really sure why i wrote "to induce labor" because now that i think of it the dr did say it would help soften the cervix, and not induce.  Maybe my pregnancy brain is just hoping? lol.  But im glad to hear that it has helped with others!

as far as the sex goes, were working on it!  if my hips and pelvis didn't ache and pop all the time I would even try for twice a day.  unfortunately sex just isnt as enjoyable anymore but were gonna do it when we can and hope she comes soon! 

sap05e

I'm definitely not ready to go into labor, but I want to do whatever I can to make it go smoothly for when the time gets here. OP, how far along are you? I wonder if I should start RRL tea yet.

lauran2010

I have heard that about the evening primrose oil, i haven't tried it yet. But i have been drinking the tea since 33 weeks, but the tea is to help to tone the uterus to ease the labor. I have also been bouncing and doing exercises on a yoga ball to help get my body ready and baby in position. Yesterday i googled acupuncture for labor and found a few sites with good info. ( you tube) So maybe pressing on these sites may help too. Just an idea to look them up. And of course the "sex" to help, even though its not really comfortable for me anymore either. Good luck!