Research-backed
As your due date approaches, you may receive various suggestions to induce labor with natural home remedies. The use of primrose and raspberry tea to induce labor are two such popular methods. These plants have medicinal values and can be consumed directly or in capsule form as you enter your third trimester. However, only do so after consulting your healthcare provider.
Additionally, massaging with primrose oil or drinking raspberry tea may induce labor. They have been known to soften the contractions, thus helping to ease you into labor.
Go through this post to understand the role of primrose and raspberry tea in inducing labor and their possible side effects.
Evening Primrose Oil
Evening primrose oil is a beneficial herbal oil. Evening primrose oil comes from the steam distillation of the seeds of the evening primrose plant. The herbal oil has several curative properties, such as:
- Reduces symptoms of hormonal issues, such as breast pain.
- Used for the treatment of allergic skin diseases, like eczema. (1)
How To Use Evening Primrose Oil To Induce Labor?
During the last phase of pregnancy, many moms use evening primrose oil for cervical dilation. It is one of the herbal procedures, to induce labor in pregnant women. Applying the herbal oil softens the cervix, and the contractions that occur due to labor. Moreover, softening of the cervix helps ease the delivery process. (2)
Recommended Dosage Of Primrose Oil To Induce Labor
The recommended dosage of the herbal oil for cervical dilation is as follows:
- Reaching 34 weeks of pregnancy, take two 500 mg capsules of evening primrose oil daily.
- At 38 weeks, you can increase the dosage to three to four 500 mg capsules daily.
- The evening primrose oil for the perineal massage helps soften the perineum skin and prevents the risk of episiotomy (3)
Side Effects Of Primrose Oil In Pregnant Women:
Some of the side effects of consuming evening primrose oil include:
- Upset stomach
- Loose stools or diarrhea
- Headaches
- Nausea (4)
Raspberry Leaf Tea
The tea originates from red raspberry leaves and has many medicinal effects. Some of the effective properties of raspberry leaf tea for pregnant women include:
- Raspberry leaf tea cures the notion of morning sickness in pregnant women.
- Help in calming the cramping of the uterus and induces labor naturally.
- Raspberry leaf is a rich source of iron, calcium, manganese, and magnesium. The magnesium content is essential for strengthening the uterine muscles.
- Raspberry leaves contain vitamins B1, B3, and E, which are vital for pregnant women.
- Helps the uterus return to normal size.
- Balances hormones.
Red Raspberry Leaf Tea To Induce Labor
The key ingredient of the raspberry leaf is an essential alkaloid, fragrine. The alkaloid strengthens the ligaments of the uterus and the muscle fibers in the pelvis. Red raspberry leaf tea increases the uterus contractions and shortens labor duration. The improved efficiency of uterus contracts induces labor and eliminates the risk of excessive labor pain. (5)
Recommended Dosage Of Raspberry Leaf Tea To Induce Labor
- Reaching the late third trimester of pregnancy, healthy pregnant women can drink 4-5 cups of raspberry leaf tea daily. However, take your doctor’s opinion first.
- If you prefer consuming raspberry leaf tablets, you can take two 300mg or 400mg tablets with each meal, three times a day, from 32 weeks. (6)
Side Effects Of Raspberry Leaf Tea In Pregnant Women
Most women do not experience any side effects from drinking raspberry leaf tea. However, there are some possible side effects:
- Nausea
- Loose stools
- Increase in Uterine contractions
Other Natural Ingredients To Induce Labor
There are several natural ingredients to induce labor during last phase of pregnancy. Some of the herbal and natural ingredients to induce labor are:
- Spicy Food
- Castor oil
- Eggplant
- Pineapple
Remember to take such herbal or natural ingredients under strict medical observation. If required, consult with your gynecologist, to know more about the labor-inducing ingredients.
You should check with your healthcare provider before attempting any procedure to induce labor. The same goes with using evening primrose oil and raspberry leaf tea. Regular use of evening primrose oil after the 34th week of gestation is likely to soften the cervix and perineum skin to make childbirth smoother. Raspberry leaf tea may provide various minerals and vitamins, balance hormones, and modulate uterine contractions to reduce the intensity of labor pain. However, these natural substances may have side effects such as stomach disturbances and loose stools.
Reviewer
Dr. Karla S. Sanchez-Banos
(MD)