RRL tea is completely safe for healthy pregnant women. It's active ingredient, fragrine, acts specifically on uterine muscle to produce mild 'toning contrax' much like Braxton Hicks. This is just a general tightening of the uterus, 'hard belly', not going to implicate the somewhat different cells of the cervix, won't cause 'labor contrax' that is. Some sources say that RRL also has 'hormone balancing' effects, but I've not seen any evidence on this as yet.
EPO is not a prostaglandin per se--it contains compounds that our bodies can use to create prostaglandins necessary for softening ('ripening') the cervix. THe cervix must soften for uterine contractions to have the desired effect of opening the cervix by pulling it back (if that makes sense). Because I have seen adverse affects with EPO used in excess, I think it is wise to be cautious about it's use. Labor occurs a) in the presence of both prostaglandins and oxytocin--the first soften the cervix, the second creates uterine contractions that shorten the uterus, pulling the cervix up/away/open. And b) labor occurs when baby is ready, as signified by biochemical signals passed to mom (as far as I know, this biochemical dance btwn mom and baby is not entirely understood yet).
You don't want to disrupt the balance of prostaglandins and oxytocin, which can be trouble for some moms. EPO can cause too much cervical softening before mom has enough oxytocin flowing--which can bring baby down too far, too soon, onto a fairly closed cervix. I saw this in a first time mom whose baby was fairly far descended into the vagina, causing an almost unbearable, irresistible urge to push from 1cm dilation onward. Another mw I know saw a mom who used a lot of EPO--and the mw could actually see the baby's head a little, with the cervix still wrapped around it, only a few cms dilated! In both cases, labor is very painful because the cervix is stretched so tightly around baby's head that the uterine contrax can't open the cervix--the cervix just cannot relax. Knee chest, to bring baby up toward mom's heart and off the cervix, was the only thing that helped cervix open--and knee chest is not a comfy way to labor, let me tell you!
I would not recommend EPO for any first time mom; and only for 2nd or beyond births if the first birth went pretty far post dates (at least 42wks) and/or mom had a lot of strong labor without good progress in dilation. Of course, many women who've had a primary csec had just this occur--BUT! They also were laboring in bed, not allowed to move and position freely, not fed or allowed to drink, had epidurals and/or pitocin inductions....so I would still be cautious about using EPO for such a mom.
THe amount noted by the OP sounds like a lot to me as a 'preventive measure'. I think even half that amt would be plenty....if it's needed at all.
Semen also contains prostaglandins....and it would be hard to go wrong with making love as often as desired in the last weeks! Orgasm also produces oxytocin in women....as well as simply 'love itself'....so go ahead and love on your partner, be loved-on....but do try not to make it chore designed mainly to get some prostaglandin deposits!
