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[Oliver's Mama]

So... who has started Red Raspberry Leaf tea and what's your recipe/schedule? The big thread on MDC is too intimidating, so I thought we could just have our own little thread.

I didn't hear of it until the end of my last pregnancy so didn't get into it much, and decided to wait til second trimester this time. 

I've started with one cup with 1 tsp RRL and 1 tsp spearmint (had it laying around, just for flavor) and need to order some nettle leaf.  I haven't had any contraction issues, so I'm going to up it to 2 cups a day.

Then what's the general consensus? 3 cups in third trimester then a highly concentrated pitcher after labor starts?

What else do you like to add for flavor?

[firespiritmelody]

I've heard so many mixed things about it that I never really got into it with my previous babies but I had a really drawn out pp bleeding period (almost a full 6 weeks) so I'd like to help minimize that this time. I didn't hemorrhage or anything but it was still rather unpleasant. Interested to hear what everyone else has to say on it.

[camprunner]

Right now I'm doing two cups of tsp rrl and one tsp of nettles. Not sure if that is overkill or not but I'm trying to get some vitamins back into my body.  If I flavor it, I use peppermint but I've gotten used to drinking it straight since you shouldn't have too much mint while breastfeeding.

Last time, I do think that it helped me recover quicker though the pushing phase still really really hurt!

Nettles should help with the bleeding more since it has vitamin k in it.

[kwiathellen]

I drank RRL tea that I bought at Safeway throught my second pregnancy and had a four hour labor, with only 20minutes of pushing and a much easier time recovering after the birth than after the first one. I bled a LOT during and after the first birth and with my second the first drop of blood came out after the baby was born. I have no idea if the RRL tea had anything to do with it...

Where do you guys get your tea?

[camprunner]

 I usually buy it in bulk at mountain rose herbs.

[miss_nikki]

I'm currently trying to remember to drink a cup a day. I drank it during my last 2 pregnancies and during labor I had 1 super strong cup.Both times my water broke within 15 mins of drinking it and I don't push very long. In another month or so I will up it to 2 cups. Three around the 7th month and then 4 cups the last month.
 

[TIFF4NY]

I have to admit I know nothing about rrl but I did get my placenta encapsulated with DD and I had a great recovery!

[1babysmom]

I love rrl tea. With my history I dont start it until 2nd tri+, and I totally beleive it have ramped up the efficiency of my ctx in labor! I start with a cup or two a day then am up to 4 or so by the end.

I encapsulated my placenta the last 2 times too! Might do it again, though I still have like 250 capsules in my freezer!

[camprunner]

I encapsulated my placenta with my second child and didn't have such a great experience.  I partly believe it might have caused a hormonal imbalance and that I didn't really need them but there were also several other factors that contributed to post partum depression that may have been situational (birth injury, had the back up midwife [no one's fault but it was disappointing], dh took the baby from me and went to another part of the house for an extended amount of time while I was stuck in bed, MIL came to stay for two weeks and was a real jerk, etc).  We went ahead and dried the placenta to encapulate last time but I had such a good post partum period that I didn't need them. I attribute that to my mom coming to help out and having instructed my husband on more appropriate behavior.

[1babysmom]

Originally Posted by camprunner 

I encapsulated my placenta with my second child and didn't have such a great experience.  I partly believe it might have caused a hormonal imbalance and that I didn't really need them but there were also several other factors that contributed to post partum depression that may have been situational (birth injury, had the back up midwife [no one's fault but it was disappointing], dh took the baby from me and went to another part of the house for an extended amount of time while I was stuck in bed, MIL came to stay for two weeks and was a real jerk, etc).  We went ahead and dried the placenta to encapulate last time but I had such a good post partum period that I didn't need them. I attribute that to my mom coming to help out and having instructed my husband on more appropriate behavior.

I havent ever experienced PPD so never had a reason to take the capsules, except I did try them for hormonal headaches and I thought it helped. But I only took a small handful of each set of capsules. I figured I would keep them for menopause since there is info on that. But we shall see.

[brooklyn_warbler]

I was religious about my RRL tea in the 2nd and 3rd tris of my first pregnancy.  I took it in my 2nd tri with my son, but it made me contract way too much in the 3rd tri (and I already contract like crazy for no reason) so it seemed superfluous.  I had very fast and straightforward births both times and excellent recoveries.

I don't get PPD but I do get weepy/irritable at about a week postpartum, and then I just feel moody  for a few weeks after that.  The 2nd time around I had my placenta encapsulated and it solved the moodiness right quick. TOTALLY doing that again.

[Oliver's Mama]

Originally Posted by brooklyn_warbler 

I was religious about my RRL tea in the 2nd and 3rd tris of my first pregnancy.  I took it in my 2nd tri with my son, but it made me contract way too much in the 3rd tri (and I already contract like crazy for no reason) so it seemed superfluous.  I had very fast and straightforward births both times and excellent recoveries.

I don't get PPD but I do get weepy/irritable at about a week postpartum, and then I just feel moody  for a few weeks after that.  The 2nd time around I had my placenta encapsulated and it solved the moodiness right quick. TOTALLY doing that again.

just curious.. how big are these capsules? I'm no good at swallowing pills, but I like the thought of assistance for post partum blues.  Is that only something you can do through home birth?

[TIFF4NY]

Olivers Mama, I had a hospital birth and was able to take my placenta home for encapsulation. They looked at me sideways and made me sign a form but I did it. I intend to make sure I can do it again this time around as well. 

Each person might have different sized capsules but mine were no bigger than the average medicine type size. I know that's not very specific but I didn't have any trouble with the size of the pill. You are best to research in your area and you can always ask the people what size capsules they use. 

[1babysmom]

I did "00" capsules.  (I have only ever encapsulated my own, so I have no idea what a certified person would use)

[Georgetown HB Mom]

I am a certified placenta encapsulation specialist. If anyone has any questions related to placenta encapsulation feel free to ask. You might also be able to find a certified encapsulator in your area and not have to deal with the encapsulation yourself.

[bmcneal]

I took RRL for a bit at the end of my first pregnancy. I think I might try it this time. Is it more effective if you take it throughout your pregnancy, or is it still pretty helpful if you take it only closer to the end? I have never had a lot of problems with contractions, but this pregnancy, I feel like I need to be a bit more careful, since I have had some other issues.