EPO, Raspberry leaf tea, castor oil, etc.

megggles · September 2015

Anyone considering taking Evening Primrose Oil, Raspberry Leaf Tea, or anything else? I haven't yet brought it with my OB, but have friends whose midwives have suggested it in the past. Discuss!

farwellmama · September 2015

My midwife recommends both...I drink the raspberry leaf tea (not as much as I should) and at 35 weeks I start the evening primrose oil supplement both orally and vaginally. I think it's just supposed to help soften the cervix, much like having sex does (unless you're not getting to do that anymore, like myself :P).

We shall see!

babyvelasquez2015 · September 2015

I drink the tea (should be drinking more!) I was just gonna start the primrose oil. So... When they say vaginally... U just, put it in there??

shineysasha · September 2015

Ive been taking primrose, apparently it's excellent for helping with ligaments and even preventing tearing. @babyvelasquez2015 yep, I cut the capsule a bit first then put it up as far as I can LOL charming I know! Inserting vaginally does help prepare the cervix though! Castor oil- no no no no. No one wants to be having diarrhoea whilst in labour. Not my idea of fun anyway.

emma216 · September 2015

How much raspberry leaf tea should you be taking?

candii1991 · September 2015

I've been taking two raspberry leaf tablets since 32 weeks and just started with one glass of the day today at 35w2d

alz88 · September 2015

With my previous pregnancy I took 5w tablets, done EPO up and down, and drank the raspberry red leaf tea and I swear to god it made such a difference!! I had an unmedicated ,natural birth (unlike the previous one where I was induced-cervadil, waters broken and pitocin and laboured for 2 days before she was finally born, almost an emergency c-section) I really believe it helped as it was approx 6 hours start to finish with 10mins pushing. I didn't feel the "burning ring" or any type of pain just inmense pressure as he was crowning, the EPO must have softened my skin to allow it to stretch nicely. Doing it again this time to see if it helps again!

MandahGirly · September 2015

Raspberry leaf tea and I'm thinking of primrose oil but midwife said to wait until 39 weeks so that's what I will do.

MamaOwl15 · September 2015

Just say no to castor oil . . . Many people feel it's not effective at doing anything but giving you diarrhea.

SarahAnne1101 · September 2015

I am doing the red raspberry leaf tea. 4 cups a day. And EPO starting now. Generally midwives want you to wait until 39 weeks to start EPO, so check with your provider. i am only starting early because I am scheduled for a pre 39 week induction.

komorebi · September 2015

If you're gbs positive do not insert anything into your vagina. You could also just have sex because semen is a better prostaglandin.

Castor oil is the devil.

The tea is yummy, imo,but i never noticed a difference in the pregnancy i used it with.

My midwives have a few gentle inductions techniques they recommend but only once you're past your edd and not typically for first time moms since most of them will go past their edd.

helloaustin123 · September 2015

What brand of tea do y'all drink? What week did you start drinking it?

farwellmama · September 2015

@helloaustin123 I Got the Frontier loose leaf brand from Amazon (cuz it was cheaper in the long run than the tea bags)...and supposed to be drinking minimum 2cups a day ...since about week 14, I think. Haha, some days I drink a ton, and others I don't drink it a bit, so we shall see

BabyLackey · September 2015

FTM here. What is the tea and primrose oil supposed to help with? I'm 33 weeks and would like to do/drink whatever will help with a nice delivery.
Can you find these at any herbal store?

plumpous · September 2015

My OB suggested primrose oil if in the next few exams I don't soften enough. I think I'll order the tea too. I know evidence of any of these is not conclusive but they don't seem to hurt and so I say why not.

lindsay897 · September 2015

My midwife said to start EPO around 35-36 weeks. I started taking it yesterday and have had loose stools yesterday and today. Not sure if it's related, but wondered if anyone else has noticed a similar change.

Louisl · September 2015

My doula said to start red raspberry leaf tea now (35 weeks). Another thing I don't see mentioned here is she said women who eat 6 dates a day shave hours off their labors....? I'm all over that!

ETA: oh and she said you have to let the red raspberry tea tea steep for 20 minutes to get the full benefits.

shineysasha · September 2015

@lindsay897, yeah me too! I looked it up and having soft/loose bowel movements is normal, i figure it can't hurt when I go into labour to already have been taking a natural stool softener lol

mnmplusthree · September 2015

I also heard to eat medjool dates to help speed up labor

babyvelasquez2015 · September 2015

Where do u get dates?

jdill07 · September 2015

What brand of EPO are you using?

RainNFyre · September 2015

babyvelasquez2015 said:

Where do u get dates?

A grocery store would be a good source.

swcm · September 2015

I'm excited to eat some dates! Here are a few studies on dates - the first study used 6 dates/day beginning at 36 weeks:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21280989

https://jmrh.mums.ac.ir/article_2772_0.html

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264384650_Comparing_the_efficacy_of_dates_and_oxytocin_in_the_management_of_postpartum_hemorrhage

I'm also doing raspberry leaf tea - my midwife said 1 cup/day. (The box makes you think you should drink 3-4 cups/day but I dunno if that is just to sell more tea...)

Louisl · September 2015

mnmplusthree said:
I also heard to eat medjool dates to help speed up labor

Did you hear or read they have to be medjool? There are some really good ones that taste like brown sugar and not as sweet I was going to get.

shineysasha · September 2015

@babyvelasquez2015 or maybe you could see if you could pick one up from the pub

)

babyvelasquez2015 · September 2015

I told my husband "thanks babe you made me look stupid for asking where to get dates!!" I've never had dates before and asked him if they tasted good and where in the grocery store I could find them. He told me he thought they might be seasonal and he didn't know if they were easy to find.
I told him "apparently a grocery store is a good source."
I am always telling him stories about the conversations on the Oct board and letting him read posts so boy did we laugh so hard in bed!!

swickham7 · September 2015

When can you start using raspberry leaf tea? I am 35 weeks today.

Louisl · September 2015

babyvelasquez2015 said:
I told my husband "thanks babe you made me look stupid for asking where to get dates!!" I've never had dates before and asked him if they tasted good and where in the grocery store I could find them. He told me he thought they might be seasonal and he didn't know if they were easy to find.
I told him "apparently a grocery store is a good source."
I am always telling him stories about the conversations on the Oct board and letting him read posts so boy did we laugh so hard in bed!!

He is right about fresh dates being seasonal but generally dates are eaten dried so they're available year round. Look for them where other dried fruits are

SandraD1119 · September 2015

@babyvelasquez2015 you can get them at Trader Joes in the cold section usually by the salad stuff.

twogirlsandagreen · September 2015

I just picked up some organic Medjool dates from the grocery store and they are so good!!!

FrozenMommy · September 2015

LOL! Dates will be near raisins and nuts and stuff and any regular store.

Rikki_5 · September 2015

what's up with dates? why do they speed up labor, I've never heard this before!! *goes to get some dates*

swcm · September 2015

swickham7 said:

When can you start using raspberry leaf tea? I am 35 weeks today.

I asked my midwife at 28 weeks and she gave me the OK to start drinking it then.

plumpous · September 2015

I love medjool dates! Good excuse to eat those ha ha.

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EPO, Raspberry leaf tea, castor oil, etc.

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