Who is doing RRL/Nettle infusions?

[ursusarctos]

Wondering about this. I just made myself a batch of nettle infusion, and last night I had a mug of rrl tea. I've done nettle infusion on and off for the past year and last month when I didn't know I was pregnant yet. Susun Weed says both infusions are safe throughout pregnancy, but I think I'm sticking to the rrl as a tea this early on - anyone have experience with rrl or nettle throughout pregnancy? I know a lot of people wait until later in pregnancy to do the rrl at least.

[2sweetgrrls]

No infusions, but RRL tea here; I had postpartum hemorrhage with both girls directly after birth each time, I really want to do absolutely everything in my power to avoid that happening a third time. I've heard of the 1, 2, 3 rule--1 cup per day in the 1st tri, 2 a day in the 2nd, 3 in the 3rd?

[velveeta]

I'll be doing both, too. I am just going for RRL iced right now. That rule that Mel posted sounds good. I will try that. I did it with my second b/c the afterpains were so bad with my first. It did help in every way, I believe.

[VegMomma]

I am a rrl user, but only later in pregnancy. My midwife advises against it in the first trimester.

[Kikelet]

Originally Posted by VegMomma

I am a rrl user, but only later in pregnancy. My midwife advises against it in the first trimester.

Interesting.. I was thinking about this myself. I wonder what the research says about it. I'd like to start doing this now (5 weeks), only if it's truly safe.

If I find any info about the first trimester, specifically, I'll post a link.

[VegMomma]

In 'Wise Women Herbals for the Childbearing Year' she says that it can prevent miscarriage, but I've also read that it can cause miscarriage, so I'm a little gunshy.
My midwife says that the reason she doesn't recommend it is because if she doesn't want to give the okay, and then have people making super strong teas, or tinctures or whatever.

Just to be safe, I'll hold off until I'm around 14 weeks...

[catchthewind]

I've heard mixed things about rrl in the first trimester too, so I'm staying away from it until second trimester. I had good intentions to drink it every day last time and rarely remembered, but I'm hoping to stick to it this time.

[morganeldi]

me me me! I've been doing them for several months now, but also mixed with red clover. Now I'm going to cut out the red clover and just do nettles and a smaller amount of RRL (I usually do a small handful of each herb but I think I'm just going to do a tablespoon of RRL for the 1st tri). Then up the RRL a bit each trimester. I use a french press and and it makes about 2 or 3 cups of tea. Good hot or cold.

I also make a separate one with oatstraw which makes a nice calming tea and also full of nutrients.

[jennydecki]

*

[ursusarctos]

Originally Posted by 2sweetgrrls

I've heard of the 1, 2, 3 rule--1 cup per day in the 1st tri, 2 a day in the 2nd, 3 in the 3rd?

That's what I heard too! But does it refer to tea or infusion? Infusion is quite a bit stronger.

Originally Posted by VegMomma

In 'Wise Women Herbals for the Childbearing Year' she says that it can prevent miscarriage, but I've also read that it can cause miscarriage, so I'm a little gunshy.

Same here.

Originally Posted by morganeldi

me me me! I've been doing them for several months now, but also mixed with red clover. Now I'm going to cut out the red clover and just do nettles and a smaller amount of RRL (I usually do a small handful of each herb but I think I'm just going to do a tablespoon of RRL for the 1st tri). Then up the RRL a bit each trimester. I use a french press and and it makes about 2 or 3 cups of tea. Good hot or cold.

I also make a separate one with oatstraw which makes a nice calming tea and also full of nutrients.

Ohh I love oatstraw, wish I could get it here. So you do a tea not an infusion?

Well I'm sitting here sipping my cup of nettle infusion... It's so full of nutrients, and it tastes so good, so I feel OK taking it. I figure I'll do occasional nettles when I feel like it and same with rrl tea (not infusion), but not too strong. I plan to step it up in the later months though - rrl infusion/larger quantities of tea is supposed to be ok by then, right?

[HippieChristianMum]

I do rrl tea, but only after the first trimester. I am interested, though, in the difference between a tea and an infusion . Anyone care to enlighten me? Thanks!

[brightskye]

Teas generally ARE infusions. I'm sorry, but did you mean decoction for the stronger method? An infusion is just steeping the herbs (or teabag) in hot water. A decoction would be much stronger because it would be boiled down.

[Right of Passage]

In wise women herbal tea and infusion are 2 different things, but Weed does mention that some herbalists use the words interchangably. She describes a decoction as an infusion that has been reduced to one-half it's volume by slow evaporation. Wise women herbal describes tea as being steeped for 20 minutes and an infusion (dried keaves) being steeped for 4 hours.

[morganeldi]

I do my infusions by using a small handful of herbs, pouring boiling water over it (I use a french press but used to use a mason jar--the french press is soooo much nicer) and let it steep for at LEAST 4 hours, ideally 8. It's really strong.

Nettles, as far as *I* have read are perfectly safe in pregnancy even the first trimester.

The oatstraw I don't steep as long, more like a half hour.

I loosely follow susan weeds recipes. Great book Wise woman herbals for the childbearing year

I get my herbs in bulk from a friend of my moms who grows and harvests them herself and blesses the herbs and asks permission to harvest them (or something...) before she does.

[HippieChristianMum]

Thanks ladies, that makes sense

[mama kk]

I like to make nettle mint infusions (with a handful of dried nettle, and a mint tea bag, in a quart mason jar with boiling water and seep for 4-8 hours) and then ice it. Sometimes I add a few drops of stevia or honey to sweeten it. Nettle is perfectly safe to use throughout pregnancy and is FULL of minerals and calcium. Even my dd likes to drink it iced (if it has a straw).

I think as a lot of others have mentioned, RRL is questionably safe in strong doses such as an infusion first trimester. But I used RRL infusions almost every day in my 3rd trimester my last pregnancy and I really believe it contributed to my quick and smooth first birth.

sometimes it can be so hard to eat right in the first trimester for me as I feel sick and craving bad stuff. But I always feel good about myself when I drink nettles.

[huskermommy]

Yes, I'll be doing RRL this time, with nettles and alfalfa. When I wasn't bfing while pg with ds, I also added spearmint. MMM yummy! I follow the 1, 2, 3 rule as well and do the strong infusion at the end. It has REALLY helped with afterpains if I take it religiously throughout the pg.

I say, do what you feel comfy with as far as the 1st tri goes. RRL will not "cause" a miscarriage from what I have read.

[Right of Passage]

I just order nettle, RRL, and alfalfa from mountain rose herbs I'm excited to start making infusions to nourish my body! YAY!

[Toteblume]

I had serious postpartum hemmorrhage, too. I'm guessing RRL is red raspberry leaf?
Forgive me for being out of the loop, but how is it supposed to help?

Thanks for the insight!

[Right of Passage]

It's supposed to tone your uterus, if you can get a copy (library or purchase) of Wise Women Herbal for the Childbearing Year by Susan Weed she talks about lots of herbs that are good for pregnancy and what to avoid.