Ems
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It's hard to say for certain, because there is little research on the benefits of raspberry leaf tea. Raspberry leaf tea, also known as red raspberry leaf, is a herbal remedy. It's not the same as raspberry fruit tea.
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:
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:
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.
- 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 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
