Red raspberry leaf tea and evening primrose oil

Nycbk · October 2015

Hi ladies. So I am a FTM but one of my friends who is a STM suggested I start drinking red raspberry leaf tea at 32 weeks and start taking evening primrose oil at 37 weeks. They both are meant to soften and tone your uterus for birth. I tried the red raspberry leaf tea while trying to conceive and well hey I'm pregnant now so it may have helped who knows. I still have 6 boxes left so I figured I would start drinking it next week at 32 weeks. I wasn't sure about the evening primrose but my friend who suggested it just had her second baby. She went into labor at 11:30pm and the contractions picked up at 2:30am and they broke her water at 6:00am and her daughter was born 3 minutes later. And her first labor was very similar. I know obviously her body and the baby have a HUGE part in this and it's not just the tea and the oil that made it go so quickly. I was just wondering if any STM's have tried it and what they feel about it. I'll keep you all posted on how it goes for me.

spottedginger · October 2015

So from what I have seen/ heard, those are old wives tales, but studies haven't ever positively proven that they work. There is a study that shows that eating dates (6/day from week 35 or 36 on) does lead to more spontaneous labor and other benefits. That said, I will be eating dates and drinking the red raspberry leaf tea.

laurabwalker · October 2015

I will be eating dates and drinking the tea as well

it doesn't hurt anything so I figure i'd give it a shot

kmkaull2 · October 2015

Evening Primrose worked for me. I inserted for 2 days and then my water broke. I would not start at 32 weeks though! On the off chance it changes your cervix, you want to wait until you are due or overdue.

missphil · October 2015

I'm doing 32 oz of RRL per day and will definitely do the date thing. I have my Oil of evening primrose caps but I want to consult with my midwife beforehand because everyone seems to have a different time frame for which they recommend taking it.

Evvi121515 · October 2015

my midwife recommended I do this as well, started the tea the other day (at 32 weeks), and it's pretty tasty tea!

athora80 · October 2015

Just got the tea and I am almost 33 weeks! Going to look into the primrose for later too.

TomekiaB · October 2015

Just out of curiosity is the evening primrose oil taken orally for labor preparation (I know that it is common orally for PMS)?

Cmagno · October 2015

I drank red raspberry tea last time and had DD at 39 weeks with no complications. Probably totally unrelated but I guess I'll pick some up again ;-)

Nycbk · October 2015

Ok awesome. Thanks everyone. Here's to a quick and easy pregnancy for us all (a girl can hope right?!?)

mrs14678 · October 2015

Yeah, Evening Primrose Oil is awesome for regulating womanly health, haha! I'm not surprised there are connections with birth too!! I used to have such irregular periods, then I started taking Primrose oil regularly and they got better. No issues conceiving, either. Got it right on the first try. Haha!

Any suggestions on brands for the red raspberry leaf tea?

missphil · October 2015

@ArielleRene I bought the loose leaf kind on Amazon. The bag is huge and it's probably more cost efficient than doing the tea bags. The brand is Frontier. Right now the weather is super hot so I make large batches and keep it in the fridge to drink as iced tea.

kmkaull2 · October 2015

TomekiaB said:

Just out of curiosity is the evening primrose oil taken orally for labor preparation (I know that it is common orally for PMS)?

I think you can, but you can also insert vaginally. Do a quick google search and it will give you a good explanation. ;-)

keallenrmt · October 2015

I did both with DD and neither worked.

fmraglio · October 2015

Here's the study that has show RRL tea to be effective at shortening labor and decreasing the chance of going over your due date
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10754818

I've been told it's more effective if it is drank as hot as you can stand it, but that isn't shown in any studies.

As for the primrose oil it has been studied at 37+ weeks and was shown to make no difference and was again studied at 32+ weeks and was shown in that case to be effective. The studies show it takes a minimum of 6 weeks to make a difference with the primrose oil when taken orally. There was also another study done (this one not in the US) that showed using the evening primrose oil as a lube during sexual intercourse made a difference when used regualrly starting at 32 weeks.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10380450

discohiker · October 2015

If you are meant to go into labor, it will happen. I started EPO orally and vaginally at 33 weeks.... had lots of sex.... walked all over the place....spicy food..... teas.... hip positioning.... everything in the book other than taking the castor oil (not recommended EVER). I ended up with a c-section and wasn't dilated at all.
I am more of the opinion that your mindset will help your body relax and prepare for labor.... and if taking everything helps you believe that it is happening, then it will. That said, I am going to be trying all that stuff again for this pregnancy as it can't hurt. Guess after reading this I am going to start eating dates too.

Praying to finally go into labor on #3.

grkgdss00 · October 2015

Thanks for this, just picked up some Raspberry leaf tea!

laurabwalker · November 2015

I've been drinking it a few weeks, does anyone else find it makes their Braxton hicks stronger? This can be a side effect, not a bad one just uncomfortable sometimes. Just wondering for conversation more than anything

fishsticks-n-custard · November 2015

fmraglio said:

Here's the study that has show RRL tea to be effective at shortening labor and decreasing the chance of going over your due date https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10754818 I've been told it's more effective if it is drank as hot as you can stand it, but that isn't shown in any studies. As for the primrose oil it has been studied at 37+ weeks and was shown to make no difference and was again studied at 32+ weeks and was shown in that case to be effective. The studies show it takes a minimum of 6 weeks to make a difference with the primrose oil when taken orally. There was also another study done (this one not in the US) that showed using the evening primrose oil as a lube during sexual intercourse made a difference when used regualrly starting at 32 weeks. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10380450

Do you have a pubmed link for the 32+ week study? All the studies I had read were equivocal so I'm curious to see something with positive results.

astarw · November 2015

Used both with my first LO and I had a quick delivery. He was out in three pushes in less then 10 min and I didn't tear either. I am doing both now for baby #2. And at 37 weeks was 4cm dilated and 50% effaced with a very soft cervix. Dr hopes I go this weekend so she won't have to induce me on Tuesday for possible high BP.

caityleigh92 · November 2015

I'm currently drinking 1 cup of Raspberry leaf tea each day. I'm 33 weeks. Once I hit 37 weeks I'll increase to 2 cups a day. It doesn't necessarily make you go into labor but it's definitely great for preparing your uterus for delivery. It's also recommended for after you deliver and even drinking it when mother nature makes her monthly visits. I get mine at Publix or you can order it online. Give it a shot. It's very affordable.

Nycbk · November 2015

@astarw I will be sending you positive thoughts that your LO makes an appearance this weekend. After talking to my midwife I started on both the tea and the EPO. I am currently just doing one cup and one pill and day but may increase it after thanksgiving. I got my tea on Amazon as well. It was 6 boxes for $22 I think.

fmraglio · December 2015

MammaDoc said:

fmraglio said:

Here's the study that has show RRL tea to be effective at shortening labor and decreasing the chance of going over your due date
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10754818

I've been told it's more effective if it is drank as hot as you can stand it, but that isn't shown in any studies.

As for the primrose oil it has been studied at 37+ weeks and was shown to make no difference and was again studied at 32+ weeks and was shown in that case to be effective. The studies show it takes a minimum of 6 weeks to make a difference with the primrose oil when taken orally. There was also another study done (this one not in the US) that showed using the evening primrose oil as a lube during sexual intercourse made a difference when used regualrly starting at 32 weeks.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10380450

Do you have a pubmed link for the 32+ week study? All the studies I had read were equivocal so I'm curious to see something with positive results.

If you have access to a medical library that's where they can be found. I have access to one through work but cant post links through it because you have to have a login ID and password to read them. The 32 week study was done by Banner and Briggs 2014 if that helps. Sorry I didn't see this sooner!

merbear32 · December 2015

I read that you start the tea at a low dose at 36 weeks and increase dosage towards the end with MD consulted. It can cause preterm labor according to drugs.com ( i found this when trying to find dose) and webmd. My MD was fine with me taking a low dose after 37 weeks. I also am eating four dates daily (thats the dose the study used) but not in one sitting. I tried pineapple but it caused too much acid.

stephaniechen82 · December 2015

Do date rolls covered in coconut count? They are really good and are pretty much a date paste rolled in shredded coconut, probably with a little sugar added.

merbear32 · December 2015

Those are made with dry not fresh dates. The study I believe used fresh but they might count!

fishsticks-n-custard · December 2015

fmraglio said:

fmraglio said:

Here's the study that has show RRL tea to be effective at shortening labor and decreasing the chance of going over your due date https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10754818 I've been told it's more effective if it is drank as hot as you can stand it, but that isn't shown in any studies. As for the primrose oil it has been studied at 37+ weeks and was shown to make no difference and was again studied at 32+ weeks and was shown in that case to be effective. The studies show it takes a minimum of 6 weeks to make a difference with the primrose oil when taken orally. There was also another study done (this one not in the US) that showed using the evening primrose oil as a lube during sexual intercourse made a difference when used regualrly starting at 32 weeks. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10380450

Do you have a pubmed link for the 32+ week study? All the studies I had read were equivocal so I'm curious to see something with positive results.
If you have access to a medical library that's where they can be found. I have access to one through work but cant post links through it because you have to have a login ID and password to read them. The 32 week study was done by Banner and Briggs 2014 if that helps. Sorry I didn't see this sooner!

Hm. Still no luck doing a pubmed advanced search using those keywords. Oh well. What was the journal name? Maybe that will help.

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