Red Raspberry Leaf Tea tribe - Page 11

[mommyjamieof2]

I have been drinking rrl for abour 2 weeks now I am 37 weeks along I didn't find out about the stuff till recently. But I have few questions. I am using tea bags how much water and tea bags do you use? How often do you drink it? I bought some tea today called pregnancy tea that has other things like nettle, do any of you who drink this blend get sleepy should I drink it at night? I was told you should drink it hot and fast is this true? Do any of you do raspberry leaf drops, I saw these at the store and they are more expensive but wondering if they are more effective? What is a strong brew with tea bags for the hospital? Are any of you planning to do blue and black cohash? My OB is going to start me and I was wondering/ thinking about taking these the night before to possibly avoid pitocin. Thanks I know alot of questions

[CryPixie83]

Originally Posted by mommyjamieof2

My OB is going to start me and I was wondering/ thinking about taking these the night before to possibly avoid pitocin. Thanks I know alot of questions

Do you mean your doctor is going to induce you? If so, may I ask why? I'm always curious what the rush is

[sprout 1]

jamie- It shouldn't make you sleepy, and you can find more info on nettles (and brewing) on this thread, maybe try a search and you can see everyone's opinion on the best way to brew! What I do know about rrl is that like exercise, it takes repeated use to have an effect, so drink it every day. If you don't like drinking the tea, I'm sure the tincture would be fine, but otherwise just save yourself the $$ because the tea has the same stuff! You can drink it hot or cold, I think the big dose before/during labor is the hot/fast one... there's a big post about that early in the thread I think...
About the induction thing, I don't know your specifics but personally I'd suggest to reeeeeeeally really research induction before you go along with it, even with cohoshes. But if you do decide to use the cohoshes, keep in mind that they probably aren't going to kick you into labor if your body really isn't ready yet. If you want to avoid pitocin... well don't go in to be induced (ignore that if you really need to be induced for a medical issue or something)

[CryPixie83]

Originally Posted by morgansmom

If you want to avoid pitocin... well don't go in to be induced (ignore that if you really need to be induced for a medical issue or something)

ITA, unless you have a medical condition that necessitates induction I would avoid it as many inductions quickly end up "emergency c-sections". Just a thought.

[sprout 1]

yep, unfortunately induction was the first step to getting that purty c/s ribbon next to my son's name. I was 42+ weeks so my midwives had to drop me (and ds was 12lbs.) but if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't have stepped foot in that hospital.

[CryPixie83]

Wow Amy, Morgan was a big boy! You sure know how to grow 'em! You and I are due to have UCs around the same time

[sprout 1]

Morgan was born in alaska where they say things grow big... like monster cabbages... so hopefully this wisconsin baby will be a little more ah.. moderate. Like a wisconsin cabbage or something I'm glad to be here and due in the summer too, because we're overrun with wild red raspberries- I have an endless supply to experiment with! I'm still wondering if anyone smoothies raw leaves or eats them raw in some other way... I read about it in Herbs, Helps, and Healings and they actually don't taste all that bad, especially in a smoothie. DS even loves the green smoothies!

[CryPixie83]

mmmmm smoothie *drool*

[sunshinestarr]

Can someone tell me if it's okay if I put the RRL that I have now (from Mountain Rose Herbs - fantastic!) into capsules and eat it?

[AppleOrangePear]

Does it matter if it is just RRL or if it contains RRL along with other good pregnancy herbs such as nettle etc?

Michele

[mommy2madison03]

Okay, let me tell you that I envy all of you who actually like the RRL tea. I drank my first cup last night and thought it was awful. So I put a little raw honey in it to sweeten it some and that aftertaste is killing me. I'm really going to have to choke it down.

I really don't think it turned out as strong as it should have either. My daughter grabbed my teapot about 10 minutes into the steeping and pushed the plunger all the way down to stop the brewing. I guess that aftertaste will be even worse with my next quart.

How much honey do you add to a quart? I put in maybe 2-3 teaspoons. I still thought it tasted bad so I put in a little sugar too! lol Bad I know!

To make mine, I boiled 4 cups of water. I put in about an ounce of tea in the infuser and let it set for about 20 minutes. I then poured the tea into a container and added the honey and sugar and stuck it in the fridge for this morning to drink all day. Am I doing this right?

I hope aquire the taste for this really soon!

[loomweaver]

Originally Posted by ArlyShellandKai

Does it matter if it is just RRL or if it contains RRL along with other good pregnancy herbs such as nettle etc?

Michele

I have actually been doing RRL and Nettles at the sug of my MW to keep my past anemia in check....

[Peppamint]

Ina- it's much tastier with some nettles, spearmint etc added.

[CryPixie83]

Originally Posted by busybusymomma

Ina- it's much tastier with some nettles, spearmint etc added.

OK now I have to ask this, mainly because DH is getting me tea ingredients for Mother's Day, but what does everyone flavor their RRL tea with?

I'm already getting Nettles and maybe Spearmint, but I'd love to hear ideas and such

[deditus]

What I have been using in my cotton tea bag:
6 t. rrl
4 t. nettle
3 t. spearmint
3 t. alfalfa
Steeped in a quart jar overnight and diluted 1:1 the next day. It's yummy! I bought my herbs from Mountain Rose, on others recommendations, and they were really fresh. I do not like stale rrl (as in TM tea bags).

[mommy2madison03]

Thank you so much! Now I just need to find those two things! I'm hoping the RRL will still help me out come labor time since I'm just now starting it at 31 weeks. Only one way to find out though!

[amybw]

I have been making it by the pitcher with 4 bags of TM RRL ( not the pregnancy blend- mint makes me nauseous, just plain RRL) and 2 bags of celestial seasonings raspberry zinger at the suggestion of a friend ( whose MW suggested it).
I think it is yummy!

I started sweetening it with Agave nectar. Doesnt have the twang of honey that i dont like.

I had to stop drinking it for a couple of days. I got terrible BH ctx on saturday evening that lasted til sunday morning. I had one maybe two glasses on saturday. I am not sure if it was the tea or overdoing it. So i took a break.

drank a glass monday evening with dinner, same thing monday night but i had gone grocery shopping. Thought maybe int was the overdoing it again.

took a break from it yesteday- no pains, ctx, cramps...

Picked back up today and I am having a glass right now. We shall see if the BH come back. If so, I am gonna make it weaker or take a complete break for a few weeks.
It kinda scared me!

Is this normal? should i worry or does that mean it is working?

thanks!

Amy

[Peppamint]

I love the flavor of the Traditional Medicinals brand, it has RRL, strawberry leaf, nettle, spearmint, fennel, rose hip, alfalfa and lemon verbena.

I haven't tried the Yogi brand yet.

I'm too lazy to use my own herbs so I buy the teabags. Too much cooking from scratch and such I guess.

[CryPixie83]

What's so special about alfalfa? what type of flavor does it add?

[CryPixie83]

Originally Posted by busybusymomma

I'm too lazy to use my own herbs so I buy the teabags. Too much cooking from scratch and such I guess.

Well, the way I figure it it's much more cost efficient to buy in bulk, especially as I'll be icing pitchers of it. Plus making my own tea makes me feel witchy