Taking Herbs in Late Pregnancy
Answered by: Susan Eagles
Question from: Name not given
Posted on: October 7, 2003

Can you go into labor if you take [a proprietary product] along with drinking raspberry tea?

Drinking therapeutic amounts of red raspberry leaf tea does not cause one to go into labor, rather it helps to tone the uterus in preparation for the birth. The therapeutic dosage is up to 3 cups a day of the tea made with one to two tablespoons of the dried leaf to a cup of boiling water.

I can’t comment on particular proprietary products. I generally recommend that a pregnant woman does not take herbs unless advised by an experienced midwife who has a good education in the use of herbal medicine in pregnancy, or by a herbalist with experience in treating pregnant women. An excellent resource is "The Natural Pregnancy Book" by Aviva Jill Romm (publishers "The Crossing Press", Freedom, California). Every woman has different needs. An experienced herbalist, herbalist midwife or resource such as this book, can advise you on the herbs that are right for you.

Specific herbs to prepare the uterus in the last few weeks of pregnancy need only be used if there is a problem or there is a history of problems in birthing. Education and caution are necessary if a woman is taking herbs in over-the-counter preparations defined as pregnancy tonics or birth preparations. Many of the herbs in these formulae, such as black cohosh, may stimulate contractions before 37 weeks of gestation.

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