Tea Tribe!! « Back to Group Discussions

[BaileyB]

I have seen these threads before and thought I would start one.

Who is or is going to be drinking Raspberry Leaf Tea? When are you starting it? Have you drank it with other pregnancies?

I drank it with my second pregnancy and loved it. I had a great second birth. I don't think I started it until sometime around week 34 I think. I have been having braxton hicks already. Does anybody know if it is safe to start in early pregnancy?

[LilyTiger]

I would definitely like to try it.  I did a ton of research on Google/scholar looking into the pros and cons, and there really doesn't seem to be any evidence in either direction.  There is one study that showed a positive outcome, but the results weren't statistically significant.  That being said, there's a ton of anecdotal evidence that it shortens labor and strengthens the uterus, so I'm going for it.  At the same time, I'm going to start very slowly, probably in the third trimester.  There are a lot of women on the main board who drink it from the start.

It does seem to be one of those funny instances of medical hypocrisy.  There's little to no evidence that there's any danger at all in the medical literature, and yet it is listed as a possible miscarriage risk (and so therefore a big no-no).  At the same time, there are tons of medical procedures and so on that have not been proven safe but they do them every day on pregnant ladies.

[~Demeter~]

I drank it throughout my lastpregnancy. RRL does not cause contractions but it does strengthen and tone the uterus which can cause BH contractions to be that much stronger. I tried at various times throughout my pregnancy to drink it.. and often it made me nervous because it made my BH so much stronger, I started drinking it with regularity at the very end... I think it helped greatly with my labor.

[BaileyB]

I like the tea bt am already having BH's so I think I might wait until atleast the last half of my pregnancy but I did find it helpful.

[lakeruby]

I plan to drink some RRL tea starting now, though not every day. I am going to alternate with Nettles and also throw in some Oatstraw, etc.  I love tea!  

[lactomom]

I drank a mixed pregnancy tea (containing RRL) during my second pregnancy and I've already started with this one. I try to get at least a quart of tea a day, thought some days I don't get that done. On days I get my tea, I feel SO MUCH BETTER! 

Pregnancy Tea: First Pregnancy (midwife made)

2 parts Red Raspberry Leaf

1 part Alfalfa

1 part Comfery leaf

1 part Peppermint leaf

1 part Nettle leaf

During the second trimester I added dandelion leaf and milk thistle for liver support. It resulted in NO SWELLING 

Pregnancy Tea: Second Pregnancy (self made)

2 parts Red Raspberry Leaf

1 part Alfalfa

1 part Peppermint leaf

1 part Nettle leaf

1 part Oat straw

When I hit the second trimester I'll add

1 part Comfery leaf

1 part Dandelion

1 part Milk thistle

I add 1/2 cup if the mixed tea to a quart jar, and fill with boiling water to the top. Then I put the lid on and let it sit for at least 1/2 an hour! Strain and drink

[andaluza]

Thanks for sharing the recipes!

I love tea, but am feeling a little gun shy about it since every single thing I look up is considered safe in one place, unsafe in another. I will probably try rrl later in my 3rd trimester, though.

[Knitting Mama]

This sounds amazing, but I have no idea where to buy the herbs to make it myself!
 

Originally Posted by lactomom 

I drank a mixed pregnancy tea (containing RRL) during my second pregnancy and I've already started with this one. I try to get at least a quart of tea a day, thought some days I don't get that done. On days I get my tea, I feel SO MUCH BETTER! 

Pregnancy Tea: First Pregnancy (midwife made)

2 parts Red Raspberry Leaf

1 part Alfalfa

1 part Comfery leaf

1 part Peppermint leaf

1 part Nettle leaf

During the second trimester I added dandelion leaf and milk thistle for liver support. It resulted in NO SWELLING 

Pregnancy Tea: Second Pregnancy (self made)

2 parts Red Raspberry Leaf

1 part Alfalfa

1 part Peppermint leaf

1 part Nettle leaf

1 part Oat straw

When I hit the second trimester I'll add

1 part Comfery leaf

1 part Dandelion

1 part Milk thistle

I add 1/2 cup if the mixed tea to a quart jar, and fill with boiling water to the top. Then I put the lid on and let it sit for at least 1/2 an hour! Strain and drink

[lactomom]

If I meed a little of an herb I get it from my herbalist or the health food store. If I need bulk herbs I get them from Mountain Rose Herbs (online).

[Knitting Mama]

I'm going to buy in bulk from them! Great prices! Can you reuse the tea mixture or is one steep all you get?

[lactomom]

I typically do one steep, as I want the most nutrient dense tea possible. However, you could use it for 2.

[Knitting Mama]

Maybe what I will do is save it from making the first quart, and if I manage to get through more than the one quart I'll use it to make a second batch for that day...

[lactomom]

Great way to use the herbs again!