I drink the Traditional Medicinals pregnancy tea, and find it to be extremely helpful in controlling swelling (I drink ~4 cups/day). When I'm too lazy to make it and don't drink it for a day or 2, my feet puff up like crazy. As long as I'm disciplined in drinking it, I only get a tiny bit of swelling. My doula said it's the nettles -- they support kidney function and that helps with the swelling.
Anyway, for those who live in different countries and may not be able to buy that tea, here's a recipe I have that I suspect is very similar. I haven't actually made this (I'm lazy, so prefer to buy the pre-made stuff), but it has many ingredients in common with the TM tea. HTH!!!
Oh, and careful about what you pour boiling water in. I think Pom broke every glass pitcher she owned making tea!! I boil my water in a pot, let the tea steep in that, then transfer it to a glass pitcher when it's cool.
Here's the recipe:
This tea is a nutrient supplement (iron, calcium, and many vitamins and trace minerals), and is an overall "partus preparator" or birth preparation brew. The dried herbs can be mixed in a large batch to have on hand. The tea is delicious both hot or cold and it can be enjoyed by your whole family. You 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, during labor, and is beneficial for the pospartum as well, as it helps with milk production.
2 parts red raspberry leaf
2 parts nettle
1 part oatstraw
1/2 part alfalfa
1/2 part rose hips
1/4 part red clover
1/4 part speramint leaf
Mix all of the dried herbs together and store in an airtight container away from heat and light. To prepare your infusion, take 4 tablespoons of the mix and place in a quart-size jar. Add boiling water to fill the jar, cover, and let steep for a minimum of thirty minutes, a maximum of 2 hours. Strain, sweeten, and drink 1-4 cups daily.
Anyway, for those who live in different countries and may not be able to buy that tea, here's a recipe I have that I suspect is very similar. I haven't actually made this (I'm lazy, so prefer to buy the pre-made stuff), but it has many ingredients in common with the TM tea. HTH!!!
Oh, and careful about what you pour boiling water in. I think Pom broke every glass pitcher she owned making tea!! I boil my water in a pot, let the tea steep in that, then transfer it to a glass pitcher when it's cool.
Here's the recipe:
This tea is a nutrient supplement (iron, calcium, and many vitamins and trace minerals), and is an overall "partus preparator" or birth preparation brew. The dried herbs can be mixed in a large batch to have on hand. The tea is delicious both hot or cold and it can be enjoyed by your whole family. You 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, during labor, and is beneficial for the pospartum as well, as it helps with milk production.
2 parts red raspberry leaf
2 parts nettle
1 part oatstraw
1/2 part alfalfa
1/2 part rose hips
1/4 part red clover
1/4 part speramint leaf
Mix all of the dried herbs together and store in an airtight container away from heat and light. To prepare your infusion, take 4 tablespoons of the mix and place in a quart-size jar. Add boiling water to fill the jar, cover, and let steep for a minimum of thirty minutes, a maximum of 2 hours. Strain, sweeten, and drink 1-4 cups daily.
