Red Raspberry Leaf tea dangerous??? Huh?

[naerae_30]

Why? I've read that it's not good to drink during pregnancy AND when I was at the health food store asking about it, some customer barged in and emphatically claimed that it is dangerous because it starts labor. Huh? Yet ALL the pregnancy teas contain it?

Please help me understand the difference in opinion.

Renée

[beckyphry]

If you can handle reading the whole thread (it's just super long), there's a RRL Tea Tribe in the main pregnancy area. It's very informative. Personally, since I've had a miscarriage, I won't drink RRL in the first trimester. There are some anecdotal stories out there about RRL causing some bleeding in the first trimester. Who knows if it really does, but after miscarrying, I won't try it just yet.

However, it seems that later in pregnancy RRL is excellent for the uterus.

[Sabo]

People are overly cautious about raspberry leaf. My sister works at an OB's office and gave me a folder with a whole bunch of pregnancy info. It mentions raspberry leaf:
Has been used in pregnancy commonly for morning sickness, to decrease cramping, and to aid in childbirth. It has documented use for 1,000 years without adverse effect historically or in the literature. Little research has been done to evaluate efficacy. Usual dose: Tea 1-2 cups at bedtime. (Steep 1 Tbsp. of herb in 8 oz. boiling water x 10 minutes)

I figure if the normally crazy careful medical professionals say its ok, then it should be more than fine.

[jeaninevp922]

"If you have a history of miscarriage, some herbalists recommend that you should delay using the common variety of red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) by itself, especially as a tincture, until after the first trimester. You can then drink one to two cups of tea a day every other day. Also, if your previous labor has been under three hours, red raspberry may be contraindicated. Check with your health practitioner." I just read this on
http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/articles/pregnancy/herbsandvit/index.php
Don't know who they are, where they got their info, etc, but thought I'd throw it out there if someone wants to investigate further.

[major bedhead]

With my last pregnancy, I found RRL tea increased the number of Braxton-hicks contractions I'd been having, which was problematic for me since I'd already had symptoms of pre-term labour. It also made DS "jumpy", so I stopped taking it. Other people swear by it though. I think taking it is a good thing if you can tolerate it, but it's by no means necessary for everyone.