>I was together with my daughter's pregnant friend . She asked
>about Chamomile  and raspberry tea. I know chamomile can
>have allergenic  concerns. She had been told raspberry could
>cause contractions, I had not heard this before. Does anyone
>have  any info re/ this? thanks ,Chris Erland
>

Midwives very often recommend drinking red raspberry leaf (RRL) tea 
throughout the 2nd and 3rd trimesters.  Mine suggested 2-4 cups per 
day.  I second Jennifer Tow's observation that virtually all 
homebirthing mothers drink RRL tea, and virtually all go to full term 
with healthy, good-sized babies.  (I count myself in that category, 
twice.  :-)  )

Here is a reference on its use during pregnancy: 
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=10754818> 

Raspberry leaf and its effect on labour: safety and efficacy. 
Parsons M, Simpson M, Ponton T.  Aust Coll Midwives Inc J. 1999 
Sep;12(3):20-5.

"The purpose of this study was to examine the safety and efficacy of 
raspberry leaf products consumed by a group of mothers during their 
pregnancy, by comparison with a group of mothers who did not. A 
retrospective observational design was used. Subjects were women who 
birthed their babies at Westmead Hospital between January 1998-July 
1998. The sample consisted of 108 mothers; 57 (52.8%) consumed 
raspberry leaf products while 51 (47.2%) were in the control group. 
The findings suggest that the raspberry leaf herb can be consumed by 
women during their pregnancy for the purpose for which it is taken, 
that is, to shorten labour with no identified side effects for the 
women or their babies. The findings also suggest ingestion of the 
drug might decrease the likelihood of pre and post-term gestation. An 
unexpected finding in this study seems to indicate that women who 
ingest raspberry leaf might be less likely to receive an artificial 
rupture of their membranes, or require a caesarean section, forceps 
or vacuum birth than the women in the control group."

Warmly,
Margaret
mom of 3, LLLL
Longmont, CO

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