Red Raspberry Leaf Tea tribe - Page 101

[Sonkissed]

Thanks Contactmaya! :)  With my last pregnancy, I drank sooo much of the tea. With this current pregnancy, I was slacking a little too until I read some of the posts online. I don't want the pain! Im bringing that pint-ounce mix with me to the hospital, you betcha!! I think I'm going to make some now!  I drink a mix with alfalfa, for the high nutrient value; peppermint, for taste, bloating, and heartburn; and nettle, thats one I really depend on because it gets rid of the water retention safely (I tend to be a human water balloon) and its healthy. So I will post up again after I have this little princess in 2 weeks or less to let everyone know how RR worked again. I hope it works wonders for you too!   

[Sonkissed]

Wel, I had my little princess a little sooner than I thought. I had to be induced due to high blood pressure. The tea did wonders, once again, even with being induced. I didn't need pain meds, and my entire labor from the time they started the oxytocin was only 6 hours. There was only 2 hours of moderate contractions, and nothing that wasn't too bad. I took the pint-ounce suggested drink on page one after 3 hours, and I have been drinking RR since 16 weeks along. Really, the contractions barely hurt the last hour. I had her head out in one push and would have had all of her out with that one push but the doctor had to catch her and she wasnt in the room, so I had to pause. My hubby told me that I made it look like a piece of cake. I told him it was all about the tea! But the God created and gave us the tea so its all about God, so thank you Heavenly Father Creator for giving us such a divine break on the labor pains!

[cameragirl]

Originally Posted by Sonkissed 

Wel, I had my little princess a little sooner than I thought. I had to be induced due to high blood pressure. The tea did wonders, once again, even with being induced. I didn't need pain meds, and my entire labor from the time they started the oxytocin was only 6 hours. There was only 2 hours of moderate contractions, and nothing that wasn't too bad. I took the pint-ounce suggested drink on page one after 3 hours, and I have been drinking RR since 16 weeks along. Really, the contractions barely hurt the last hour. I had her head out in one push and would have had all of her out with that one push but the doctor had to catch her and she wasnt in the room, so I had to pause. My hubby told me that I made it look like a piece of cake. I told him it was all about the tea! But the God created and gave us the tea so its all about God, so thank you Heavenly Father Creator for giving us such a divine break on the labor pains!

Congratulations! Six hours with an induction is awesome. I can only hope that things go that easily for me.

[contactmaya]

Congratulations Sonkissed!!! And wow on your labor, and wow on RLT! Thanks for sharing.

[herbsgirl]

  sonkissed.... Congrats!!

It appears that if one has to be induced for medical reasons, large amounts of strong red raspberry infusion during labor help hasten the birth!

[Mulvah]

I have been trying to avoid this thread since I responded initially, but I just can't.  The quick labor stories are sucking me in, even for tea that may taste like I'm sucking on a tree. I purchased some tea and am anxious to start drinking it.  I don't know that I'll like it, but I'm willing to give it a whirl. 

[contactmaya]

You get used to the taste. I love RLT :-)

[illiterati]

Hi RRL tea drinkers!  I also wanted to share my successful birth experience. I don't know if scientifically I can credit the tea, or other factors (epo, generous birth canal). But long story short, I actually had a really long labor (30ish hours). But it was super gentle. In fact I didn't think I was in real labor but the doula convinced me to go in for a check. Lo and behold I was 9 cms, and bug eyed from shock. I never even had transition, just cramps for over 24 hours. 

Again, not scientific and no other births to compare it to. But I know the RRL tea I'd been drinking during the 3rd tri did something. I could feel the BHs pick up after drinking it. So my toned uterus managed to dilate right under my nose while I was in denial about being in real labor up until almost pushin time. So drink up!

[contactmaya]

wow, i hope my labor will be like that :-) congratulations illiterati!!!!

[moodymomma]

Quick question. When making the strong infusion for labor how long is it okay to keep in your fridge? I'm at 39 weeks on Saturday and want to have it ready to go, but if I end up overdue it may not be good anymore. Should I just start drinking the strong infusion now and keep making large batches until D-day?

[yippiehippie]

Originally Posted by moodymomma 

Quick question. When making the strong infusion for labor how long is it okay to keep in your fridge? I'm at 39 weeks on Saturday and want to have it ready to go, but if I end up overdue it may not be good anymore. Should I just start drinking the strong infusion now and keep making large batches until D-day?

According to Susan Weed infusions last only 2-3 days in the fridge, so I wouldn't let it go longer than that. I'm 37 weeks and have some frozen in a bottle and also ice cubes (which really come in handy!)

For the strong labor infusion, I'm pretty sure I'll puke if I take 1c in 1 pint of water! I like it, but not strong! As it is now, I drink 1-2 oz/day (I make the 1oz to 1 qt water infusion and steep for 7hrs), but I water it down. So is there any harm in watering it down a bit, as long as you're still getting the whole oz? Also, must it be hot? Any experiences cold and less strong?

[dangerbunnygirl]

I love infusions of nettle and rose hips but can't stand strong infusions of RRL, I'm at 31 weeks and feel like I should be taking more then a cup of RRL tea everyday/ couple of days. Should I put on my big girl panties and drink the bitter stuff or can I get the benefits if i just do a couple cups of tea?

[yippiehippie]

Originally Posted by dangerbunnygirl 

I love infusions of nettle and rose hips but can't stand strong infusions of RRL, I'm at 31 weeks and feel like I should be taking more then a cup of RRL tea everyday/ couple of days. Should I put on my big girl panties and drink the bitter stuff or can I get the benefits if i just do a couple cups of tea?

Have you tried it watered down? That's what I do and like it a lot that way. I cannot stand nettle though! No matter what I do with it I can taste it and don't understand how anyone could like it, lol!

[dangerbunnygirl]

lol, nettle is my friend! We also eat it as a green in the spring so maybe I am more used to the taste.

[AndtheStars]

Greetings RRL tea drinkers!

I'll admit first off that I didn't read the whole thread.  I did read enough to get the instructions for 1st tri, 2nd tri, 3rd tri infusion amounts.  I also saw that nettles can be used with the same infusion amounts.  So here's the question:  Can I infuse the nettles and RRL together with 2 1/4 cups water to make a double infusion or do I need to do 1/2 cup RRL in 2 1/4 cups water and 1/2 cup nettle in another 2 1/4 cup water?  (I have the actual amounts written down but don't have it with me at work so if those amounts are wrong, I know)  I plan on watering down the infusion with some lemon juice and honey so it won't be so stinkin strong.  Thoughts?

[dangerbunnygirl]

I make an infusions based on Susun Weed's recipe, which is a handful of herb, in a large glass container (I use a big canning jar) with a snug fitting lid. Boil water, pour over leaves and let sit until cool.

I generally do a one herb brew, so nettle infusion nearly everyday, rose hips when I am in the mood for it. I find RRL rather bitter on it's own as an infusion so usually will fill a tea ball and try to drink a cup or two of it daily. I also sometime drink a premixed tea like Traditional Medicinals blend or  Earth Mama Angel Baby Third Trimester Tea

Herbs are an inexact science, instead you rely on what what your body tells you,  sometimes nettles totally gross me out but usually I find the infusion super tasty. So don't stress if you are having a hard time drinking x amount of tea.

[yippiehippie]

Originally Posted by AndtheStars 

Greetings RRL tea drinkers!

I'll admit first off that I didn't read the whole thread.  I did read enough to get the instructions for 1st tri, 2nd tri, 3rd tri infusion amounts.  I also saw that nettles can be used with the same infusion amounts.  So here's the question:  Can I infuse the nettles and RRL together with 2 1/4 cups water to make a double infusion or do I need to do 1/2 cup RRL in 2 1/4 cups water and 1/2 cup nettle in another 2 1/4 cup water?  (I have the actual amounts written down but don't have it with me at work so if those amounts are wrong, I know)  I plan on watering down the infusion with some lemon juice and honey so it won't be so stinkin strong.  Thoughts?

I mix. No way in hell can I drink straight nettle!! I have to put spearmint in with it in order for it to be palateable at all for me;) I like RRL on its own though. Both I water down greatly, as I'm not a huge tea fan anyway, so for RRL i do 1c in 1qt hot water, cover for 7 hrs and then when I drink it I mix it around 2/3 infusion w/1/3 cold water/ice. I still get in an oz or two/day b/c I drink sooooo much all the time! Sometimes I make my own mixture of 1/2c nettle, 1/2c RRL, 1/2c oatstraw (for calcium and magnesium), 1/2c spearmint (for taste) in 2qts water. So, yeah, if you want to do nettle and RRL together, I wouldn't see why not, might be gross though, so you'll have to see what you like mixing with them (i've found I don't like lemon w/RRL). Susan Weed says nettle is better mixed w/salt than sweets, but doesn't work for me!

[Mulvah]

Originally Posted by contactmaya 

You get used to the taste. I love RLT :-)

I really expected this tea to taste like sucking on bark seasoned with mud and bird poo, but it's actually quite good.  I like it and don't even need to get used to it. 

[herbsgirl]

Originally Posted by AndtheStars 

Greetings RRL tea drinkers!

I'll admit first off that I didn't read the whole thread.  I did read enough to get the instructions for 1st tri, 2nd tri, 3rd tri infusion amounts.  I also saw that nettles can be used with the same infusion amounts.  So here's the question:  Can I infuse the nettles and RRL together with 2 1/4 cups water to make a double infusion or do I need to do 1/2 cup RRL in 2 1/4 cups water and 1/2 cup nettle in another 2 1/4 cup water?  (I have the actual amounts written down but don't have it with me at work so if those amounts are wrong, I know)  I plan on watering down the infusion with some lemon juice and honey so it won't be so stinkin strong.  Thoughts?

Yes, you can mix the nettle and red raspberry infusion together.  And you may dilute it. The idea is to get the amount of herb down (no matter how much liquid you drink) daily or at least 5x  a week.  For example,  if you use 1/2 cup red raspberry daily in 2nd trimester, you  would want to drink the amount of water you put in, whether its 2 cups or 6 cups. Do you see what I mean? Its the amount of herb. 
 

[AndtheStars]

Thanks for the input!  I figured that it didn't matter but wanted to check.  Interesting about nettle and salt.  I've been diulting my 2 cups of infusion with 2 cups of water, 1 Tb of lemon juice and 1 Tb of honey.  It's ok.  I think it will taste much better once warmer weather comes along.  I don't really like cold tea unless its hot outside.  I think I would like it much better if I used frozen lemonade concentrate but the sugar content is just too much for daily consumption.  I'm so excited to see how my labor turns out.