Pregnancy Tea!! - Page 2

[Phoenix~Mama]

I'm drinking the Traditional Medicines Pregnancy Tea, currently. I'm making an iced pitcher of it every couple of days. Will be getting some loose red raspberry leaf tea probably in third tri.

[luckiest]

I have a quick question for you ladies --

My midwife recommends doing an infusion of RRL and dandelion and/or nettles, but I'm also following the Brewer diet and it recommends staying away from dandelion, nettle and alfalfa because they have diuretic properties :/

What do you guys think?

[~Demeter~]

I think herbal diuretics are way different than pharmaceutical diuretics, way gentler. They have beneficial properties that other diuretics do not. I would just be mindful of how they make you feel, if you aren't comfortable taking them then just stick to the RRL. (this is all just my opinion )

[birthdancedoula]

ITA with Nic on this one. I think this is wise advice!

[karen1968]

Originally Posted by waldorfknitmama

RRL, nettles, sometimes green tea if I need some gentle caffine, and agave. What is Aviva's recipe? Is she an herbalist? I must look into her, herbs are something I'm trying to learn more about. . .

She is an herbalist, and a midwife. Her "recipe" is found on page 91 of her book "The Natural Pregnancy", and she calls it Nourishment Tea:

Nourishment Tea

This is my favorite tea in pregnancy. It is a nutrient supplement (iron, calcium, and many vitamins and trace minerals), and is an overall partus peparator or birth preparation brew. The dried herbs can be mixed in a large batch to have on hand. The tea is delicious both hot and cold, and it can be enjoyed by your whole family. ou can vary the quantities of the ingredients, or add and omit herbs from time to time. It is safe to drink this brew throughout pregnancy and during labor. It is beneficial for the postpartum as well, as it helps with milk production.

2 part red raspberry leaf
2parts nettle
1 part oatstraw
0.5 part alfalfa
0.5 part rose hips
0.25 part red clover
0.25 part spearmint

Mix all of the dried herbs together and store in an airtight container away from heat and light. To prepare your infusion, place a heaping 1/4 cup of the mixture in a quart-sized jar. Add boiling water to fill the jar, cover and let steep for a minimum of 30 minutes, a maximum of 2 hours. Strain, sweeten, and drink 1 to 4 cups daily.

I usually steep mine overnight, and I don't sweeten. I also use a bit more spearmint, for flavor. I mix up a huge batch and store in a stainless steel container, the kind with the airtight lid.

ETA: Her book contains the properties and reasons for using the herbs. It is available in most libraries, I think.

[kittywitty]

Karen, I've been making my tea like you posted, but without rosehips or spearmint (don't have any!). I have been drinking a little under a pint a day. Think it's safe to up it? I like it a lot and would like to drink more than that. I remember drinking more than that a day with #4 but can't remember exactly. It hasn't led to an increase in BH or anything.

[my kidlets and me]

I bought a Materna Tea mix from my local herb shop, and it has Alfalfa, Nettle leaf, Oatstraw, Raspberry leaf, Rosebuds and petals in it. No spearmint. I also bought some extra RRL, so I'm going to add that in tonight. I really like it unsweetened. I tend to drink it in the evenings, though, which makes me have to pee in the middle of the night! I should probably change that...

[Yuba_River]

I get mine from the birth center--4-6 T of herbs to a quart of boiling water, steep for 4 hours. I like to drink it cold. Their blend has RRL, Nettles, Alfalfa and Mint. I really like how it tastes.

[~Demeter~]

Kittywitty! I have spearmint No rosehips though, lol.

I need to pick up some alfalfa but I don't feel it's a pressing issue at this point. I feel the nettles are better for me for some reason?? I also don't agree in using red clover blossom in pregnancy tea... and I add dandelion root to mine.

[Phoenix~Mama]

Nettles are really good. They help with BP and swelling I believe. My MW's apprentice is an herbalist and she can't say enough about nettles. lol

[karen1968]

I'm pretty sure the spearmint is just for taste, so I'm sure it's fine not to use that! The rose hips are full of Vit. C, so if that's a concern, you can add them (a little goes a long way!). Aviva J. R. recommends a quart a day, so I think you'd be safe to drink that much, probably more. I don't think you can really OD on this, although too much RRL might bring on more BH ctx. If you read the RRL tribe thread on "I'm Pregnant", you'll see that lots of women drink a quart of straight RRL at the end to help speed delivery.

[gravel10]

HI Super Luker Here

whats the best place to buy tea and herbs

[kittywitty]

I buy mine through Frontier Wholesale Coop. There are local ones, or you can sign up online and order through there.

[karen1968]

I use Mountain Rose Herbs in Eugene, OR. They have a great selection.

[~Demeter~]

Originally Posted by karen1968

I use Mountain Rose Herbs in Eugene, OR. They have a great selection.

Yeah this. I love MRH, their prices are excellent... they are organic certified, they are fair trade certified amongst other things. They are a truly excellent company.

[daphne16]

I am in my first trimester... can I start drinking tea now? if so, are there limits or anything in your 1st tri? thanks!!

[ocelotmom]

I'm still reading the title of this post as "Pregnancy Test" EVERY TIME it pops up.

I'm rather relieved to see that no one here is talking about a positive pregnancy test at the moment. 

[my kidlets and me]

Originally Posted by daphne16 

I am in my first trimester... can I start drinking tea now? if so, are there limits or anything in your 1st tri? thanks!!

There's a huge RRL tea thread in the main Pregnancy Board - all of your answers are there.

Originally Posted by ocelotmom 

I'm still reading the title of this post as "Pregnancy Test" EVERY TIME it pops up.

I'm rather relieved to see that no one here is talking about a positive pregnancy test at the moment.