Anyone use herbs to help prep yourself for labor?

I have a friend that worked with a well respected herbalist and midwife during her pregnancy - she was advised (and has supported my questioning about) using black cohosh and raspberry leaf teas to help ripen the cervix and prep the uterus for labor. Anyone have any personal experiences with these? I will be 39 weeks on friday and have been measuring ahead the entire pregnancy.

Thanks ladies!! I am so ready to meet my baby and find out the big question - BOY OR GIRL :)

The one thing, ok well 2 things that I am positive started my labor 2 weeks ago was walking and nipple stimulation.  I am dead serious the Saturday night I went into labor I stimulating my nipple all night, DH thought I was nuts but it really started my contractions and made them closer together.  This was after a full day of walking.  Good luck, anything will help at this point!

walking and sex see if they will strip your membranes then have sex! i worked in an midwifery office they had midwives doulas and everything was natural... it was for a short time they had the patient start drinking the raspberry leaf teas at like 35 weeks because she went over with her first and same with another girl at work but she also started at 35 wks, you could ask you midwife what you can do?

Cant wait to find out pink or blue! :)

Walking everyday...not far just about half mile...but the night labor started was ten mins after finishing sex. I knew it was different than before. Good luck...can't wait to hear the sex....Stacey

Ahhh the temptation of getting things moving before they decide to move for themselves... 

I had my 36 week check up with OB today... and since I have had a misserable cold for a few days I am sure I looked extra pathetic to my Doctor... all germ masked up and gimpy... and I asked her what she thought of moving up the C Section just a few day...

She looked at me and said... Colette, I know you and everyone one else, including me were over being pregnant around week 34... but every oz of fat that baby inside of you lies down between now and 21 days from now, may be vital to her survival if there should God Forbid be any issues.  Your being uncomfortable just a little longer might well save your babies life. 

I retorted with "what did you and my mom go to the same school of guilt when you were kids?"  She laughed and said seriously... I have seen it all from women take castor oil and getting diarea so bad they cause serious risk, although it sent them into labor they were too tired to perform the required pushing, risking all kinds of potential damage, Ive seen women taking teas and herbs all kinds of concoctions, only to find they had to visit their babies at the NICU cause they really werent ready to be born when their moms wanted it over with.  I dont want you taking what started a high risk pregnancy that went  smooth as silk and rushing things at the last minute... lets let this baby cook till she is done, I promise it will be worth the wait.  If you need a letter for bed rest for work, so you can rest up I can do that, but PLEASE just give Zoe a little more time to do her thing.

So needless to say... here I am, feeling bad I even thought of it... hoping the baby doesnt get board in there and keeps cooking till shes done. 

I figured in sharing this story perhaps I could spread the guilt in hopes some of you decide to suffer with me... cause well ya know... missery loves company :-)

LOL My Mom went to the same school - catholic maybe? I am not trying to induce labor justhelp my body prepare. I was told that the rasp. leaf tea "conditions" the uterus. I won't drink the castor oil - YUCK! I just want my body to be in the best shape possible to make the delivery of this munchkin smooth and easy. I didn't get to the "I'm totally done" state until last week. I'll be 39 weeks tomorrow.

Thanks again and I hope that the last few weeks flies for you!

I don't have to prep for labor b/c I have c-secs, but if I did I would be on red reaspberry leaf tea.  RRL helps with the 3rd stage of labor and your recovery too.

I have many friends who are all natural type gals and RRL tea is very commonly used.

Thanks Jen! I have been drinking 2-3 cups daily. Hopefully it is doing something - if not it at least tastes yummy :)