We can't be certain about the benefits of raspberry leaf tea, as there has been so little research into it. Raspberry leaf tea is a herbal remedy, not to be confused with raspberry fruit tea.
Raspberry leaf tea is thought to tone the muscles of your uterus (womb), to help it to 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 build up in your body, you shouldn't drink a lot of it in one go to bring on labour if you are overdue. This may cause contractions that are so intense that it causes distress to your baby.
The evidence for the effects on labour for raspberry leaf tea is mixed:•One small study found that women who drank the tea regularly towards the end of pregnancy had a shorter second, pushing stage of labour. They were also less likely to have a birth assisted with forceps.
•A herbal remedies review found no evidence that taking raspberry leaf tea shortened labour.
•A small study found a link between raspberry leaf tea and caesarean sections.
Like other herbal teas, raspberry leaf should be drunk in moderation. The chemicals in the tea work their way through your body in the same way as a drug. This may affect how some of your bodily processes work.
Some doctors and midwives advise against taking anything that may interfere with labour. That's especially the case if there is a lack of evidence that it works. Our bodies are designed to give birth without 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 this baby.
Raspberry leaf tea is not right for everyone. Don't take it if:•A previous labour lasted only three hours or less, 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.
•Are expecting a baby who is breech.
•Have any complications or health problems in your pregnancy, including high blood pressure.
•Are expecting twins.
Tell your doctor or midwife that you're thinking of trying raspberry leaf. If you do decide to take it, it's recommended that you start when you're about 32 weeks pregnant, though not before. This will give 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 down on the amount you drink, or stop taking it.
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. However, don't take the tea if your labour is being induced, or if you are having treatment with a hormone drip to speed up labour.