Can You Drink Raspberry Leaf Tea When Pregnant?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against NHS foods-to-avoid guidance · Last updated 28 October 2026
Raspberry leaf tea is a late-pregnancy question. Tommy's suggests starting around 32 weeks, after advice, and says experts are unsure whether it works or how safe it is. It is not on the NHS foods-to-avoid page.
Why is raspberry leaf tea a concern in pregnancy?
Tommy's (reviewed February 2024) says raspberry leaf is thought to tone the womb muscles, that 'experts are still unsure whether it works, or even how safe it is in pregnancy', and suggests starting around 32 weeks, after getting advice, with one cup a day building to three. Other UK pages give later start points, such as 36 weeks. The UK Committee on Toxicity (statement of 13 November 2024) rated the risk as low but with high uncertainty and gave no advice to pregnant women either way. Always check with your midwife or doctor before trying herbal remedies in pregnancy.
You can also check the calorie content of raspberry leaf tea alongside its safety information. Also check medication safety during pregnancy if you're managing any conditions.
The exception
Health professionals do not recommend it for starting labour. Ask your midwife before you start, especially if you have any pregnancy complication.
What the official and charity sources say
Raspberry leaf tea is not on the NHS foods-to-avoid page, which only gives a general herbal tea limit of 4 cups a day. The most relevant UK evidence is a Committee on Toxicity statement (13 November 2024) and Tommy's guidance.
| Source (date) | What it says |
|---|---|
| Committee on Toxicity, Statement 2024/06 (13 Nov 2024) | Risk 'low but with high uncertainty'. Based on two Australian human studies (a retrospective cohort and a randomised trial) that reported no adverse effects in mother or child at the doses tested. It gives no recommended amount or timing and does not advise pregnant women either way |
| Tommy's (reviewed 7 Feb 2024) | 'experts are still unsure whether it works, or even how safe it is in pregnancy.' Not recommended by health professionals for starting labour. Start around 32 weeks after getting advice, one cup a day building to three |
| Mother & Baby (undated) | 'wait until around 36 weeks'; no more than 3 cups a day by 39 weeks; 'there isn't enough evidence either way' |
| Healthline (US, 5 Jan 2024) | Calls it likely safe, says research suggests the second stage of labour may be shortened by about 10 minutes, and advises avoiding it in the first trimester |
Start dates differ because no UK body has set one: 32 weeks (Tommy's) against 36 weeks (Mother & Baby). Ask your midwife which they prefer for you.
Inside the Committee on Toxicity statement
- The trials. The COT cites a 2001 trial (Simpson et al.) concluding that a dose of 2.4g of raspberry leaf a day 'appeared to be safe for mother and baby', apart from possible constipation, and a 1999 study (Parsons et al.) that found no adverse effects.
- How much tea is that? The COT estimated intakes from tea of up to 10g a day, and up to 12.4g a day from all sources, at least four times the trial dose. It did not turn this into a dosing recommendation.
- The gaps. Little data on the active components, unknown batch-to-batch variation, studies disagree on whether the leaf relaxes or stimulates smooth muscle, and limited reproductive toxicity and contaminant data. Micronised products 'may require a separate safety evaluation'.
- The miscarriage idea. Two papers noted the idea that raspberry leaf promotes miscarriage in the lay press and found 'limited evidence to support this'.
Who should speak to a midwife first
Tommy's says raspberry leaf tea 'may not be safe for you' and lists conditions in which you should not take the tea or tablets, but the list was not in the text we could retrieve, so we cannot reproduce it. Mother & Baby lists high blood pressure, twins or a breech baby, a previous premature labour or planned caesarean, and other pregnancy complications; it gives no medical source for the list and describes itself as unable to find trials on labour. Treat that as a reason to ask, not as a rule. Mother & Baby also reports that the NHS notes possible interactions with some medicines, including diabetes and antidepressant medicines.
A timeline from the sources
| Stage | What the sources suggest |
|---|---|
| Before about 30 weeks | Not recommended by any source we read; Healthline (US) says avoid in the first trimester |
| From about 32 weeks (Tommy's) or 36 weeks (Mother & Baby) | If your midwife agrees: 1 cup a day |
| Building up | Up to 3 cups a day (Tommy's; Mother & Baby says by 39 weeks) |
| Any time | Stop and ask if you notice unusual cramping or contractions (Mother & Baby advice, in its herbal tea page) |
| To start labour | Health professionals do not recommend it for this (Tommy's) |
Raspberry leaf also counts toward your overall herbal tea count of 4 cups a day under the NHS general herbal tea rule, as our reading. See herbal tea when pregnant.
Sources checked
Everything in the sections above was checked against these pages on 28 October 2026.
- Committee on Toxicity, Statement 2024/06: potential health effects of raspberry leaf tea in the maternal diet (13 November 2024) — risk low with high uncertainty; two Australian studies; 2.4g/day trial dose; intake estimates up to 10g/day; no advice to pregnant women; evidence gaps
- Tommy's: What brings labour on? (reviewed 7 February 2024) — experts unsure; not recommended for starting labour; around 32 weeks after advice; 1 to 3 cups; check with midwife
- Mother & Baby: Raspberry leaf tea in pregnancy and labour (undated) — rival (undated): around 36 weeks, 3 cups by 39 weeks; who should avoid; no trials; contradictory on induction
- Healthline: Is tea safe during pregnancy? (5 January 2024) — rival (US): second stage about 10 minutes shorter; avoid in first trimester
- Mother & Baby: Can you drink herbal tea while pregnant? (undated) — rival (undated): raspberry leaf often taken around 32 weeks; stop if cramping
- NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (page last reviewed 15 June 2026) — general herbal tea limit of 4 cups a day; raspberry leaf not named; last reviewed 15 June 2026
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Check Price →Raspberry Leaf Tea: the other answers on this site
| Question | Short answer (links to the full page) |
|---|---|
| While breastfeeding | Fine in moderation |
Common questions
Is raspberry leaf tea safe in pregnancy?
The UK Committee on Toxicity (November 2024) rated the risk as low but with high uncertainty and did not advise pregnant women either way. Tommy's says experts are unsure how safe it is.
When can I start drinking raspberry leaf tea?
Tommy's suggests around 32 weeks after getting advice; Mother & Baby suggests around 36 weeks. Ask your midwife.
How much raspberry leaf tea can I drink?
Tommy's suggests starting with one cup a day and building up to three cups spread through the day.
Will raspberry leaf tea start labour?
Tommy's says health professionals do not recommend it for starting labour, and Mother & Baby says there are no studies to suggest it can induce labour.
Can I drink raspberry leaf tea in the first trimester?
Not as a rule: no source we read suggests it before late pregnancy, and Healthline (US) advises avoiding it in the first trimester.
Who should not drink raspberry leaf tea?
Tommy's says it may not be safe for everyone and to check with your midwife or doctor. Mother & Baby lists high blood pressure, twins or a breech baby, previous premature labour, a planned caesarean and other complications as reasons to ask first.
Does raspberry leaf tea count as herbal tea?
Yes. We count it toward the NHS general limit of no more than 4 cups of herbal tea a day.
Related answers
Primary source: NHS foods-to-avoid guidance.
General information only, not medical advice: see the medical disclaimer. Feeling unwell after eating something? Contact NHS 111 or your GP.