Amount/Strength of Red Raspberry Leaf Tea

[rparker]

What is considered to be the best/safest amount of red raspberry leaf tea to drink during the second and early third trimesters? I normally prefer loose leaf teas, but I bought a box of Yogi Tea red raspberry leaf teabags today in order to more accurately measure the amount. One teabag contains 1,811 mg of RRL tea and the directions say to brew for 5-10 minutes. Is one cup per day safe/sufficient during the second trimester?

I drank RRL tea during my last pregnancy as part of a general "pregnancy tea," but I didn't begin it until the third trimester and I didn't drink it every day. I did have several cups on the day I gave birth though and I had an awesome, short labor.

Thanks in advance!

[VillageMom6]

I don't know the answer but here's what I do...

I brew it up loose in an Mr. Tea iced tea maker. In the brewing basket I put one big tablespoon of raspberry leaves, one big tablespoon of nettles and a teaspoon of lemon grass.

This brews a pitcher full of tea, which I drink pretty much the entire thing each day. I'm getting a little less lately because my toddler has discovered that he loves it, too!

I did this throughout the third trimester with my second pregnancy and had very little blood loss at birth and I felt great afterwards. I didn't do it in my other pregnancies and had excessive blood loss at birth.

Just anecdotal, but I'm sure trying my old method again this time!

[Lyndzies]

I'm wondering the same thing... I have a big bag of it, and am in my 18th week, but am wary to start drinking it, because I don't know how I should be "dosing" myself for optimal results.

Also, my Rainbow Light Prenatal One contains RRL.... is it such an inconsequential amount that it won't impact the amount I should/could be drinking?

So confused about the RRL stuff, in general. I know what the benefits are supposed to be, but I just don't know when/how much to drink!

[aloneinid]

Personally, I don't think you can overdo it (unless you were drinking gallons per day, but even then...). I use a gallon jar and put in several heaping spoonfuls of the dried leaf. I drink anywhere from 16oz to the whole gallon a day if it is hot outside. I have done this from preconception to delivery in each of my pregnancies (I am in my third). No noticeable effect on my labors- my first was 4.5 hours, the second 18 hours. In my second labor I drank the "steaming hot pint" that is supposed to shorten labor and make it less painful and it did neither for me. However, I had minimal bleeding after both births and very light lochia, although it lasted a full six weeks both times.

[MyFillingQuiver]

I agree with the pp that I don't think you can overdo it! FWIW, my last labor was the shortest and "easiest", and most importantly to me, my bleeding was less than any I've had before-it was the first pregnancy that I drank RRL tea. I started in the late 1st trimester, and added in nettle in the 3rd. I still bled fairly heavily for the first couple of hours, but then, my bleeding was SO much lighter than in my 4 previous postpartum's, and I bled for a shorter amount of time..

This time, I'm adding in chlorophyll and alfalfa to that RRL/nettle to see if I can have less bleeding at the birth/pp.

[Monarchgrrl]

My midwives say that just steeping for 5-10 minutes does pretty much nothing and that using store-bought tea bags does nothing. I don't know anything about tea. That's just what they say. Here is the recipe I use from my midwives. All organic loose tea. I've been using this since pretty much day one. They say that you can't overdose on it. The nettles are really good because it's like eating a bowl full of raw spinach. Tons of vitamins:

About a whole handful each of:
RRL
Nettles

About half a handful of:
Oatstraw

About a quarter handful each of:
Spearmint (for taste)
Lemon Balm
Alfalfa

Pinch of:
Sage

Throw into a 2 qt container. Fill with boiling water. Cover tightly and let sit overnight (or at least 4 hours). Strain into a pitcher and put into the fridge and drink liberally. 2 quarts lasts me about 3-4 days. I have about 16 oz a day. I just drink it like ice tea after dinner. Then I'll drink more in the 2nd trimester (double the amount of glasses, not tea leaves) and way more in the third, probably about 2 liters a day then.

[rparker]

Originally Posted by Monarchgrrl

My midwives say that just steeping for 5-10 minutes does pretty much nothing and that using store-bought tea bags does nothing. I don't know anything about tea. That's just what they say. Here is the recipe I use from my midwives. All organic loose tea. I've been using this since pretty much day one. They say that you can't overdose on it. The nettles are really good because it's like eating a bowl full of raw spinach. Tons of vitamins:

About a whole handful each of:
RRL
Nettles

About half a handful of:
Oatstraw

About a quarter handful each of:
Spearmint (for taste)
Lemon Balm
Alfalfa

Pinch of:
Sage

Throw into a 2 qt container. Fill with boiling water. Cover tightly and let sit overnight (or at least 4 hours). Strain into a pitcher and put into the fridge and drink liberally. 2 quarts lasts me about 3-4 days. I have about 16 oz a day. I just drink it like ice tea after dinner. Then I'll drink more in the 2nd trimester (double the amount of glasses, not tea leaves) and way more in the third, probably about 2 liters a day then.

Yeah, I've been a bit skeptical about the teabags only because with non-herbal tea there is a HUGE difference in quality between loose leaf and teabags. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure that I'm still getting a similar amount of caffeine when I drink loose leaf black tea vs the prepackaged stuff. I do wonder about the length of steeping though since usually teabags require more time to steep than loose leaf tea in order to get a similar effect. I'll probably compromise and drink this box of tea and then buy some leaves when I'm closer to the third trimester.

Your midwives' recipe sounds interesting. I think I definitely want to add nettles. I'll probably have to double check the other ingredients though because I'm still breastfeeding and I've heard sage recommended to reduce engorgement/dry up milk after weaning... which I definitely don't want to happen since my milk supply is already pretty weak.

[OrchideZ]

Originally Posted by rparker

Yeah, I've been a bit skeptical about the teabags only because with non-herbal tea there is a HUGE difference in quality between loose leaf and teabags. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure that I'm still getting a similar amount of caffeine when I drink loose leaf black tea vs the prepackaged stuff. I do wonder about the length of steeping though since usually teabags require more time to steep than loose leaf tea in order to get a similar effect. I'll probably compromise and drink this box of tea and then buy some leaves when I'm closer to the third trimester.

Your midwives' recipe sounds interesting. I think I definitely want to add nettles. I'll probably have to double check the other ingredients though because I'm still breastfeeding and I've heard sage recommended to reduce engorgement/dry up milk after weaning... which I definitely don't want to happen since my milk supply is already pretty weak.

I pretty much do the same recipe as the above poster via her midwives.
I don't do sage or lemonbalm (specifically since my thyroid is hypo) & I add a squeeze of agave to the pitcher.
It does have to be an infusion and needs to steep in a sealed glass container for 4 hrs min. to be potent.
I drink it daily and use equal parts nettles- very essential to the mix.
Mountain Rose Herbs is a great online vendor to get the herbs from.