Raspberry leaf during 2WW

[Sourire]

Would you take it?

There is so much conflicting info out there regarding RRL usage during TTC... some websites say it causes miscarriages, others say it prevents them.

I started drinking RRL tea during my last AF and noticed a HUGE improvement in my AF. On the days when I had spotting, every time I drank a cup of the tea, it stopped the spotting completely for a few hours. On the heavier days, it significantly lightened my flow when I drank it. I usually have 1-2 weeks consecutive bleeding so I am definitely not concerned about AF being too short/light!!!

In my last cycle I started my pre-AF spotting at 8DPO and AF at 10DPO, which is too soon, therefore it seems like anything that would prevent my uterine lining from beginning to disintegrate too soon would be good, no?

I am currently at 4 DPO and am drinking 1 cup of the tea per day. On the one hand it may improve the chances of implantation, but on the other hand I am not 100% convinced that it is safe.

One link I found had an interesting tidbit:

Some medical and popular media make reference to raspberry leaf tea as something to avoid during pregnancy for risk of miscarriage. This notion stems from a study conducted in 1954 where fractions were isolated from Rubus sp. and applied in vitro to the uterine tissues of guinea pigs and frogs. The scientists discovered such things as one fraction acted as a spasmolytic whereas another caused uterine contractions. Herein lies the risk of isolating the parts of a whole. When used as a whole plant, neither action is exacerbated and the herb is deemed safe. If a mother is prone to miscarriages she may feel safer avoiding raspberry until the third trimester. This is an herb with centuries of safe use behind it, there is usually little cause for concern.

What do you ladies recommend? Stop drinking it for now just to be on the safe side, or keep going since it might help?

[ursusarctos]

I have been wondering the same thing. Interesting quote! It makes sense.

[LivingSky]

I don't know the answer either, but I'd love to hear what people have to say. I love red raspberry leaf tea, so I hope it's okay to drink

[Sourire]

I have stopped drinking it for now, but if things don't work out this cycle maybe I will drink it all the way through next cycle.

[Ms. B. Sprout]

FWIW, a midwife that I know recommended that I keep on drinking it while TTC. I read on the RRL tribal thread that it's considered by some to be not so good for early pg. I'm drinking it nevertheless.

I've not seen persuasive evidence that it's counterproductive. I'll be watching this thread, though. I could always switch to nettles to get my infusion fix.

[Sourire]

My DH is a pharmacist and he has a reference book of all natural products. I looked up raspberry leaf in the book and here is some of the stuff it said:

Safety for pregnancy:
LIKELY SAFE when used orally in amounts found in foods. LIKELY UNSAFE when used orally in medicinal amounts throughout pregnancy or for self-treatment. Raspberry leaf can cause uterine contractions and might have estrogenic effects. These effects can adversely affect pregnancy. Tell pregnant patients not to use raspberry leaf at any time during pregnancy without supervision of a healthcare provider.

Mechanism of action:
Raspberry leaf contains a high tanning content which is responsible for its astringent properties. When applied topically to skin or mucous membranes tannins cause capillary vasoconstriction, decreased vascular permeability, and a local anti-inflammatory effect. The effects of raspberry leaf on smooth muscle, such as that found in the uterus seems to be variable. Different constituents found in raspberry leaf seem to either stimulate or contract uterine smooth muscle. When used in humans, raspberry leaf might have either stimulatory or spasmolytic effects. There is some evidence that these effects might be dose and tissue dependent. For example, in low doses raspberry leaf might cause more contraction, while higher doses might have spasmolytic effects and decrease contraction. Also, raspberry might decrease contraction of tonic tissues and increase contraction of relaxed tissues.

Most of these statements had references and the dates of the references were all in 1990 or later so I'm not sure if that quote I put above is true about the dangers of raspberry leaf coming from a 1950s study...

Here I was thinking that maybe I should only take a small dose (1 cup of tea per day) in case it was dangerous, but according to this taking less might be worse!


Now for the other point of view, here are some quotes from the Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year by Susun Weed:

Brewed as a tea or as an infusion, Raspberry Leaf is the best known, most widely used, and safest of all uterine/pregnancy tonic herbs. It contains fragrine, an alkaloid which gives tone to the muscles of the pelvic region, including the uterus itself. Most of the benefits ascribed to regular use of Raspberry leaf tea throughout pregnancy can be traced to the strengthening power of fragrine or to the nourishing power of the vitamins and minerals found in this plant. Of special note are the rich concentration of vitamin C, the presence of vitamin E, and the easily assimilated calcium and iron. Raspberry leaves also contain vitamins A and B complex and many minerals, including phosphorus and potassium.

Benefits include:
- Preventing miscarriage and hemorrhage
Raspberry leaf tones the uterus and helps prevent miscarriage and postpartum hemorrhage from a relaxed or atonic uterus.

Raspberry leaf infusion contains calcium in its most absorbable form. Assimilation is further enhanced by the presence of phosphorus and vitamins A and C in the Raspberry leaves.

[Ms. B. Sprout]

Thanks for the info, Sourire!

Originally Posted by Sourire

taking less might be worse!

Wow, that is wild. I never would have thought that taking less would be worse.

And Sourire, my DH is a pharmacist too! I'll put him on the trail tomorrow, but he's a hospital pharmacist so I don't know how much reference material about supplements they really have. I'm sure some amount, or at least access to online info, but he doesn't own a book about supps.

[Ms. B. Sprout]

DH's hospital pharmacy had a book on drugs in pg and lactation, and he was able to find the book on Google Books.

Here it is (can't cut and paste). This book does not counsel against it, but also finds no evidence that it shortens labor.

[Sourire]

Thanks for the link Ms. Sprout! This one seems a bit more reassuring than my DH's reference book.

I started drinking the tea again today @ 6DPO because I had bright red bleeding when I woke up this morning and I know from experience that the tea stops reduces my bleeding so I felt like it would be a good idea! I will update on the results of doing this...

[contactmaya]

Sourire, thanks for this information. I look forward to the results of your experiment.

I still have RLT left over from ds' homebirth 2 years ago, and boy did it help my labor. I started drinking my big pot at 2h30 after contractions started and went ahead from there with an efficient labor.

As for spotting...yep., i have that problem...just got my normal LP back (2 1/2 years pp), but have spotting.

Anyway, keep us posted....

[Sourire]

Talked to my acupuncturist today about the RL tea and she thinks it is the right thing for me to be taking right now as it reduces my bleeding

I'm currently @ 7DPO and still having light bleeding/spotting, except when I drink the tea.