A large percentage of pregnant women do not deliver at their due date. It is however possible to try a few home remedies to bring on labor if you have already passed your due date without delivering. A number of herbal and natural induction techniques may help you achieve your goal, but you can always begin by trying raspberry leaf tea. Labor may become easier if you drink this tea on a regular basis. Keep reading to learn more about how to use the tea to induce labor.

Can Raspberry Tea Induce Labor?

Just like many other natural remedies, there is no strong scientific evidence that with raspberry leaf tea labor will help. Still, it is worth trying because it may help make labor easier. You need to bear in mind that early labor will bring lower abdominal pain, backache, cramps, and low-intensity contractions. Drinking it in moderate doses several weeks before your labor starts will help relieve some of these symptoms.

It is important to start drinking this tea several weeks before your due date. If you start drinking it suddenly, you may have to deal with intense contractions that may even cause distress to your baby. The good thing is that you can take raspberry leaf in many different forms. You can try raspberry leaf tea for labor induction or you can simply take it in tablet form. Just be sure to talk to your healthcare provider before you start taking these tablets.

You need to bear in mind this herbal tea is not suitable for everyone. You should not take it if your previous labor continued for three hours or less. Do not take it if your doctor has already suggested a caesarean for a medical reason. It is also a good idea to avoid drinking it if you have had a premature labor or a caesarean in the past.

Your healthcare provider may advise against drinking raspberry leaf tea for labor if you have a family history of endometriosis, ovarian cancer, or fibroids. They may not let you drink this tea also if you have high blood pressure, are expecting twins, or have other pregnancy complications.

How to Take Raspberry Leaf Tea for Labor Induction

As mentioned already, you should always inform your doctor first about trying raspberry leaf tea for labor. It is advised to start in week 32 of your pregnancy because this will help your body adjust gradually. Start by drinking one cup a day and take it to three cups daily by the end of your pregnancy. Reduce your intake if you notice severe Braxton Hicks contractions. If you do not like the taste of the tea, you may want to go for raspberry leaf capsules instead.  

It is a good idea to sip hot tea when you are in early labor. You can also suck ice cubes that you can make from the tea. Take some of the tea in a flask with you when you go to the hospital. Stop taking it once your labor is being induced.

More About Raspberry Leaf Tea for Labor

There is medical evidence stating that you can drink red raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy without having to worry about anything. Regular consumption may help shorten the length of labor as well as the number of interventions used. It may even save you from assisted delivery, artificial rupture of membranes, and cesarean delivery. The herb works mainly due to its iron content that helps tone the uterus, decrease nausea, increase milk production, and ease labor pains.

Along with drinking raspberry leaf tea, labor can be made easier by being on all fours. Resting on all fours will help bring your baby into a good position. When your baby's head puts pressure on your cervix, it starts to dilate. Just spend 10 minutes resting on all fours several times a day to make things easier.

What Others Say

I really enjoyed great benefits from raspberry leaf tea. Labor was made faster when I drank it – I opted for red raspberry leaves. I started it in my second trimester. I did not drink it daily, but I believe it is a good idea to drink a couple of cups daily in second trimester and take it to 3 cups a day in third trimester for better results. I just drank it 4 times a week and drank 3 cups the day before my due date. I woke up with a sharp pain at 4:30 in the morning and my contractions were only 5 minutes apart within an hour of waking up. I arrived at the hospital at 7:30am and had my baby at 8:30. It took only 4 hours to deliver my baby after labor started.

I did not try it myself, but I know a friend who started taking it at 35 weeks and she was done with her labor within 48 hours. This makes me say that raspberry leaf tea actually helps accelerate the process. I am now 38 weeks pregnant and my doctor has also recommended the same. She said that the tea will help bring on contractions and make them better. I have just bought it today and will see if it really helps me or not.