I didn't drink RLT til I was actually in labour with my first baby. He came at 40+4 and was 8lb 12.
I got to the hospital, into the room, and was examined and told I was only 3 cms and to go home and come back later, as they expected it to be a long labour. I refused to leave, requested some hot water for tea and told them to check on me in a couple of hours.
ONE cup of rlt and I was contracting almost non stop, they came back after a couple of hours, examined me again and said goodness me your now about 8 and a half cms dilated! I can't remember how long the pushing was because this was almost 8 years ago, but the entire labour from start to finish was 10 hours. I didn't go into the hospital right away. I think 10 hours for a first baby of 8lb 12 was pretty good and I'm sure it would have taken longer if not for the tea. My uterus went back to normal very fast after birth, I remember the health visitor commenting on how beautifully it was going back to non pregnant size.
Second baby, I didn't get the chance to have a rlt, because the whole labour was 3-4 hours from waking to a trickle to my baby shooting out of me and being caught by midwives. He was a dinky 7lb though, kind of easy compared to a 8lb 12er! Born a whole 17 minutes after arriving at the hospital!
This time, I might start rlt before labour, but not much before because I get BH all the time and don't feel I need to build up dosage, I'll maybe start it at 38 weeks if I haven't gone by then (last baby came at 38w on the dot)
Gotta love nature and the lovely things it provides us with!
Also....BUMP! Great thread!
