Is red raspberry leaf safe during pregnancy?

What does the evidence say about red raspberry leaf during pregnancy?

1. Dietary-supplement labels in the U.S. don't guarantee what's actually inside, and pregnancy safety data for many herbs, including red raspberry leaf, is limited. 1
2. A small randomized trial and a few observational studies of third-trimester use haven't found harm to mother or baby at the doses studied, though the studies are small and don't support firm conclusions. 2
3. Many pregnancy-marketed labor-prep tea blends mix red raspberry leaf with other herbs like nettle, oatstraw, or alfalfa, and that combination's safety hasn't been studied together. 3
4. ACOG hasn't endorsed red raspberry leaf as a routine way to prepare for labor, and advises against using herbs during pregnancy without your provider's supervision. 4

Is red raspberry leaf safe in each trimester?

• First trimester. Not recommended now: it may affect the uterus, and there's no first-trimester safety data to support using it this early.
• Second trimester. Still not typically recommended at this stage either.
• Third trimester. The classic use is late in the third trimester, around 32 to 34 weeks onward, at a low amount and only with your provider's direction. Evidence that it shortens labor or reduces interventions is limited and mixed.