RLT - how much?

[Hollipops]

HI ladies, I just bought some RLT bags and capsules. Asked my midwife this morning and she said not to take until i am ready to give birth - errr, thats not going to help is it! So i have decided to have a few cups of tea for the next week and then start on the capsules. If there is a chance the acutal labout will be quicker I am more than willing to try it!

 

[Jayceesmumma]

thats strange.. copnflicting times to start rlt.... ive heard 32weeks gradually building it up...

 

[DW1978]

My tablets are 900mgs and they say not before 28 weeks?

 

[Jayceesmumma]

strange how it all changes...

 

[Jayceesmumma]

Raspberry leaf tea is thought to tone the muscles of your uterus (womb) to help it work better during labour. The idea is not so much to speed up your labour, but to help it to progress at a nice, steady pace. Because raspberry leaf tea takes several weeks to accumulate in your body, it won't work to bring on labour if you are overdue.

Nobody knows how long your labour will last. Some mums-to-be have labours that are very long and slow. This is called failure to progress. It is one of the main reasons why you may need a caesarean section. One study did find that women who drank the tea regularly towards the end of their pregnancies had a shorter second, pushing stage of labour than those who didn't.

We do know that raspberry leaf should, like other herbal teas, be drunk in moderation. This is because the chemicals in raspberry leaf tea work their way through your body in the same way as a drug would.

Some doctors and midwives think it is not a good idea to take anything that might interfere with your labour. Our bodies are designed to give birth without any help. Trying to change the course of this natural process could be seen as just another way to induce or speed up your labour.

If you have already had a baby and your labour went smoothly first time around, there is no need for you to drink raspberry leaf tea for your next baby. The fact is that raspberry leaf tea is not right for everyone. Don't take it if:

• You've already had a baby and your labour was very short, three or fewer hours from start to finish.
• You're scheduled to have a planned caesarean for a medical reason.
• You've had a caesarean before.
• You've had a premature labour before.
• You've had vaginal bleeding in the second half of pregnancy.

It would also be wise not to drink raspberry leaf if you:

• Have a family or personal history of breast or ovarian cancer, endometriosis or fibroids.
• Have any complications or health problems in your pregnancy.
• Have high blood pressure.
• Are expecting twins.

If you do decide to try raspberry leaf tea, let your doctor or midwife know that you are planning to drink it. It will work best if you start taking the tea when you're about 32 weeks pregnant. This will give it enough time for it to build up in your body. Begin with one cup a day, gradually increasing to three cups. If you don't like the taste of the tea, you can buy raspberry leaf capsules in health food stores.

If you have strong Braxton Hicks contractions after drinking the tea, cut the amount you drink.

During early labour, while you are at home, you can either sip hot tea or suck ice cubes made from the tea. You could also take a flask of the tea with you into hospital or birth centre. Don't drink the tea if your labour is being induced or if you are having treatment with a hormone drip to speed up labour.

You may like to drink raspberry leaf tea after your baby is born. It's thought to:

• boost your immune system, because of the vitamins and minerals it contains
• help your uterus to shrink back to its pre-pregnant shape
• fight infection, because it has antibacterial qualities

 

[littlemiss83]

Thanks for posting that jayceesmumma

I'm maybe gonna just go for the t.bags after reading that and have 1 or 2 a day.

 

[Jayceesmumma]

I dont think too much is harmful or they'd say so...

 

[Hollipops]

useful info, thank you

 

[Lucy360]

None for me then I have endometriosis :s

 

[SunnyGirl]

I've just cut back to 4 capsules a day. Was worrying about the mental BH - feel better now!!

 

[Jayceesmumma]

I went straight on to 3 cups a day and its not had any effect on my bh.. still get them regularly as before.. may switch to the tablets its easier lol!!

 

[DW1978]

I've just cut back to 4 capsules a day. Was worrying about the mental BH - feel better now!!

I've cut back too - 3 tablets a day (900mgs) and 2 cups of tea.

 

[Jayceesmumma]

so the tablets are stronger than the tea?

 

[SunnyGirl]

so the tablets are stronger than the tea?

Ooh I dunno. Bit of a minefield all this, eh!!

I just realised from my little pillmate case that I've cut down to 3 caps! I'm just going to play it by ear. Also, it's blummin' tricky to remember to take 6 caps a day pmsl!! xx

 

[Jayceesmumma]

hmmm lol it seems to be a tricky one.. i think diff doses for diff women as we may react differently to certain amounts.. i think ill give the tablets a try.. are they big??

 

[SunnyGirl]

They're not teensy, but I've seen bigger

 

[SunnyGirl]

Ooh, I could've said swallowed bigger! Mrs Sunny - a saucy mare

 

[DW1978]

I've got these ones and they are pretty small, about 8mm in diameter!

 

[Jayceesmumma]

Ooh, I could've said swallowed bigger! Mrs Sunny - a saucy mare

you saucy thing you!!!

thats handy.. there are things that arent better bigger

 

[SunnyGirl]

Ooh, I could've said swallowed bigger! Mrs Sunny - a saucy mare

you saucy thing you!!!

thats handy.. there are things that arent better bigger

Lol!!!