Red raspberry leaf tea/dates

dancegurl1118 · April 2015

Do any STM+ have experience with drinking red raspberry leaf tea or eating dates prior to labor?

I started drinking the tea yesterday as I hit 34 weeks, and plan on eating the 6 dates a day once I hit 36 weeks. I figure both can't hurt but was wondering if anyone had any anecdotal experience with either, thanks!

mishmardhiono · April 2015

I'm assuming the RL tea is for inducing labour? What are the dates meant to do?? Isn't it a bit early to try start labour?

dancegurl1118 · April 2015

@mishmardhiono Neither are for inducing labor.

Tea is for toning the uterus (used for period cramps as well) to make labor more effective, and dates have a whole slew of apparent beneficial properties (a study done found eating them from 36 weeks on reduced induction, cut mean latent labor time from 900 min to 500 min, and most still had intact membranes at time of admission meaning less pitocin being used for augmentation).

I'm probably the only person on the planet who is dying to go 40+ weeks (for selfish reasons, I want all of September off!) just looking to make labor more effective.

mishmardhiono · April 2015

Ah okay, I didn't know that. Very interesting

babybean9 · April 2015

I'm a FTM but have been drinking lots of raspberry leaf tea since the second trimester. I've had fairly strong Braxton hicks from early on, and definitely feel like the tea has helped with toning.

Hoping it works well for both of us. :-) sorry I don't have anecdotal contributions!

alsier · April 2015

I just asked my midwife about raspberry leaf tea. She recommended drinking 1 quart a day starting at 36 weeks. I'm still at 34 so I will probably start drinking it soon!

cmcards83 · April 2015

Just bought a slew of dates at the farmers market & eat them with raw almonds & walnuts for a snack. Just ordered nettle & RL tea leaves from MountainRoseHerbs.com as my midwife also recommended a quart a day. Anything I can do to help my chances of a shorter & more productive labor.

Sammy K · April 2015

I hadn't heard about raspberry leaf tea until this board. Since by first labor was about 100 minutes total, I won't be trying it.

If you get to 39+ weeks and want to get things started, I can vouch for acupuncture to help start labor.

alcrimmins · April 2015

I'm 33 weeks and started drinking RL tea yesterday. Crossing my fingers it cuts down on my labor time! I haven't heard about dates though. I'll check it out!

KaLikeAWind · April 2015

alsier said:
I just asked my midwife about raspberry leaf tea. She recommended drinking 1 quart a day starting at 36 weeks. I'm still at 34 so I will probably start drinking it soon!

A f*ing QUART!?!? A quart is 32 fluid ounces. A liter is 33.8 fl oz. So, in addition to having to drink 2 (preferably 3 or more) liters of water, I also now have to drink an almost liter of tea? My bladder has no room. None. Or, also known as - when am I going to breathe cause I'll be too busy drinking water or tea

dancegurl1118 · April 2015

Haha @mellymar it counts as part of your water!

KaLikeAWind · April 2015

dancegurl1118 said:
Haha @mellymar it counts as part of your water!

Well that's a relief. I really have to force myself to drink all this water, I really do

queequeg09256 · April 2015

I just bought some on amazon! I love tea so anything as an excuse to buy more lots of good reviews on amazon.

HoosOnFirst · April 2015

queequeg09256 said:
I just bought some on amazon! I love tea so anything as an excuse to buy more lots of good reviews on amazon.

Heh, I just did too after reading this thread! I got the "Earth Mama Angel Baby Organic Third Trimester Tea".

taboullio84 · April 2015

I did with my 3rd child. I was induced.. But labor was only 3 hours long and I was finished bleeding in 4 days.. It felt like I was normal after. I am doing it this time too

queequeg09256 · April 2015

@hoodoll82 yep same one! I got the three pack reviews look good, at least people say it's tasty

alsier · April 2015

A quart does sound like a lot, doesn't it? I don't know if she meant "up to a quart" or if she was actually giving me a dosage. I should ask next appointment!

snowqueen1208 · April 2015

I've been drinking here and there since about 33 weeks. When I drink it though I notice my braxton hicks are killer. Anyone else experience this??

seesea · April 2015

snowqueen1208 said:
I've been drinking here and there since about 33 weeks. When I drink it though I notice my braxton hicks are killer. Anyone else experience this??

Same here. Whenever I drank the tea I'd feel strong BH contractions so I stopped. I'm drinking it now postpartum.

snowqueen1208 · April 2015

I wonder if I should stop drinking it. I don't drink it everyday. I was going to start everyday when I was 36 weeks

dancegurl1118 · April 2015

I started with just 2 cups a day for the first 2 weeks, I will increase to the quart at 36 weeks. My BH have been more intense in terms of pain but again nothing that doesn't stop after a few hours so I'll continue on

jas060515 · April 2015

Whats the difference between the RRL capsules and the tea? Is one better than the other?

krystleshel · April 2015

What does the RRL tea taste like? I've heard not like raspberry...

MixedCurlsXo · April 2015

krystleshel said:
What does the RRL tea taste like? I've heard not like raspberry...

It definitely doesn't taste like raspberry because it doesn't come from the fruit just the leaves. I'd say it tastes like decaffinated black tea. You can add honey/sugar if you like it sweet.

smithhomeport · April 2015

Does it matter if you drink it hot or iced?

mindaa · April 2015

Oops, I've been drinking it since the start of the 3rd tri, or about 28 weeks. Hopefully that will make up for the fact that I only drink 1-3 cups a day. Haven't found much actual medical evidence that it makes any difference... but I'll be happy to even have a placebo effect

Thankfully it has a very mild flavor, so I haven't gotten sick of it. I try to drink it plain, but add various sweeteners occasionally to mix it up.

I forgot about dates- thanks for the reminder! DH and I both love dates, so it will be nice to have excuse to splurge on them.

dancegurl1118 · April 2015

I like the taste plain! I haven't added any sweetener. I made an iced batch yesterday and it tasted great, haven't had it hot yet. Ask me in 4 weeks how I feel about the flavor after drinking a quart of it a day though!

janat1717 · April 2015

Hmmm never heard of the date thing. Going to talk to my midwife. That's a ton of sugar for me though, pretty concentrated in dried fruit

dancegurl1118 · April 2015

Definitely high in sugar so maybe not for our GD warriors -- but the study done was very interesting and definitely warrants further investigation (IMO). Google "dates labor study" to read up on it!

pixieprincss · April 2015

My MW has had me drink NORA tea (nettle, oat straw, RRL, and alfalfa) daily since the first tri with DC2 and 3 (I wasn't with her for DC1). Starting at the third tri, I aim for the quart a day. I love the stuff! I had an amazing labor and birth with DC2. Herbal teas do well to seep. I leave my herbs in overnight when possible, but at least 30 min.

If you correlate it with early contractions (so before 36 weeks, or so), back down the amount. Not everyone tolerates it as well.

It is great for PMS, too.

As for dates, I love them, so I am game!

larissaolsen · May 2015

I started drinking RRL Tea when I was 37 weeks with my last child. I would squeeze a dropper of Black Cohosh tincture into my tea and drink it 5 times a day. I also walked up and down 5 flights of stairs all day everyday, ate pineapple with breakfast and lunch, and spicy food for dinner. After a week of that I went into labor at 38 weeks and had a healthy 9 lbs 4 oz baby girl. I'm not sure which of those worked, but they did, and all were on the reccommendation of my Midwife. I hope you have a happy healthy baby like me

queequeg09256 · May 2015

I spoke to my doc about this she says she isn't sure how effective it really is, but not to start it until 3 7th week so perhaps enough that she doesn't want you to take it until you are full term. So I got some ready to go but will have to wait a few more weeks to start it. I love tea so I'm pretty excited to give it a try.

KaLikeAWind · May 2015

I found some raspberry leaf tea bags at my local grocery store, I got them but I'm starting small. Since I'm still dealing with this annoying ass cough, I'm only drinking a cup or two of hot tea a day, moreso to soothe my throat at this point, but figured if I was gonna drink tea regardless it may as well be this. It tastes pretty good. I probably won't work my way up to more quantities for a little while yet, and when I do I'll ramp it up slowly

dancegurl1118 · May 2015

I actually have really been loving the taste. I'm still drinking about 16 oz a day but will go to 32 starting this weekend at 36 weeks. I have felt a difference in the intensity of my BH but not frequency (but that could all be in my head too, haha!)

My doctor had no thoughts on the tea, and the oldest doctor in the practice was like ehhh whatever it can't hurt, but some of the midwives I work with used it for their pregnancies and labors and encouraged me to drink it. Again, can't hurt (for me).

klkonwi · May 2015

Question..... Do we need to get a certain brand of the tea for it to be effective @dancegurl1118

janat1717 · May 2015

So my midwife brought up the date thing even before I did. Totally recommended eating the 6 dates a day... Well if it is doctor's orders

KaLikeAWind · May 2015

Every time any of you talk about dates on this thread, or I remember at the store and try to look for them - All I can think about is in the Indiana Jones movie where his friend saves Indy from eating a date - "Bad dates". Its such a strong reflex I almost say it out loud every time. I watch too many movies, lol

OnWayto3 · May 2015

@snowqueen1208 When I was picking this up in the store, a woman next to me mentioned that she went into labor (early) the day after she started drinking it. Not sure how accurate this is, but it would follow with your concern about Braxton Hicks or "real" labor. Sounds negotiable. I bought some this weekend and was planning to start drinking it today...Hmm..

snowqueen1208 · May 2015

@OnWayto3 The next day!!! That's why I'm scared to drink more then one cup a day. I think I'll start drinking 2 cups a day next week when im 37 weeks!

dancegurl1118 · May 2015

@klkonwi I use the traditional medicinals off amazon because it comes in a box of 6 boxes of 16 bags so it lasts me 2 weeks-ish. Yogi makes a brand and so does earth mama (I think that's called third trimester tea). I don't think the brands make any difference!

I've been drinking it for a week and a half and definitely have not gone into labor -- however like I mentioned I talked to my doctor about it since it is not proven or disproven to start labor. If you're concerned about PTL ask your doctor! It's not meant to start labor just to tone the uterus, many women drink it to reduce the pain of menstrual cramps and it works for them.

MrsCaliRN · May 2015

snowqueen1208 said:
I've been drinking here and there since about 33 weeks. When I drink it though I notice my braxton hicks are killer. Anyone else experience this??

Me, too! I started drinking 1 cup daily at 29 weeks and these Braxton Hicks, which probably happen once or twice a week, have me stopping dead in my tracks. My plan was to start drinking 2 cups/day starting at 33 weeks (in 2 days) and then progress to 3 cups/day at 37 weeks, but I may slow down my intake if the Braxton-Hicks seem to be getting worse.

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