Red Raspberry Leaf Tea tribe - Page 106

[allisonrose]

1babysmom - Read avivaromm's post 7 above yours.

[herbsgirl]

Some women who  take RRL go over their dates, some go before dates! So Im not sure about that. 

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/herbaltea.html

Medical studies have shown that red raspberry leaf can be consumed safely during pregnancy and can decrease the length of labor and decrease the number of interventions used such as artificial rupture of membranes (AROM), assisted delivery, and cesarean delivery.¹ Red raspberry leaf also seems to help prevent pregnancies from pre-or post-term gestation (delivering too early or too late)

I believe they said it helped the women not be overdue or go before due date, just right?

[1babysmom]

Originally Posted by allisonrose 

1babysmom - Read avivaromm's post 7 above yours.

I saw that, but all it said was that "one study actually showed it prolonged gestation"  but that didn't really tell me much. ;)

[1babysmom]

Originally Posted by herbsgirl 

Some women who  take RRL go over their dates, some go before dates! So Im not sure about that. 

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/herbaltea.html

I believe they said it helped the women not be overdue or go before due date, just right?

Interesting, thanks!  I'll keep looking for more info.  But in the meantime I'd love to also hear from any mothers who might have had experience with it, too!

[allisonrose]

1babysmom - I suppose my post in the other thread was inaccurate since I was referencing avivaromm's post. My apologies for not double checking that post before referencing it. (In my defense I am on my phone which makes web browsing not so easy.)

[1babysmom]

Originally Posted by allisonrose 

1babysmom - I suppose my post in the other thread was inaccurate since I was referencing avivaromm's post. My apologies for not double checking that post before referencing it. (In my defense I am on my phone which makes web browsing not so easy.)

Not a problem!

[CrunchyMama19]

Can anyone direct me to the post on this thread or a sticky somewhere that details the RRL tea regimen? Thanks.

[herbsgirl]

There's lots of "regimes".  Different women do differently...The first post in this thread tells the original story 

These post tell my recomendations based on my research (and similar to  how I am doing it I use almost 1/2 oz to 1 quart of water)  (1/2 oz is a heaping 1/2 cup RRL)

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/347728/red-raspberry-leaf-tea-tribe/2060#post_17175762

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/347728/red-raspberry-leaf-tea-tribe/2080#post_17185998

and how to do it with bags

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/347728/red-raspberry-leaf-tea-tribe/2080#post_17193299

capsules

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/347728/red-raspberry-leaf-tea-tribe/2040#post_16943181

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/347728/red-raspberry-leaf-tea-tribe/2020#post_16876413

[birthjunkiemom]

Does reheating the tea on the stove do anything to destroy the nutrients?  I know better than to microwave it, but I like to make mine like sweet tea, and sweet tea must be hot to dissolve the sugar properly.  So, after I steep it, I've been putting it on the stove to heat it up and poor it back into the jar with some sugar.

[herbsgirl]

You can reheat it gently on the stove.            I have made hot peppermint tea and added it to my cold/room temp  infusion before.  I dont know if reheating it destroys the nutrients or not?

http://aooociatiop.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-to-boost-your-health-with.html

Strain the infusion out of the mason jar. At this point you can either pour it over ice or reheat it and sweeten it. You can store the herb in the refrigerator for 24 to 36 hours.

 

Edited by herbsgirl - 12/23/12 at 2:08pm

[LaffNowCryLater]

Originally Posted by herbsgirl 

Some women who  take RRL go over their dates, some go before dates! So Im not sure about that. 

http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/herbaltea.html

I believe they said it helped the women not be overdue or go before due date, just right?

I drank it during my 3rd pregnancy and he was delivered on his due date, where as my other 3 pregnancies went days after my EDD. Interesting connection.

[herbsgirl]

Testemonials

http://amysfinerthings.com/im-pregnant-now-what

the midwives did advocate the red raspberry leaf ~ they were always able to tell when the woman had used it, because blood loss was less and post-birth contractions etc. stronger and more efficient for clamping down the uterus.

http://fruitfulvines.blogspot.com/2011/03/taking-care-in-early-postpartum.html

A note about Red Raspberry Leaf... I drink this herb almost daily whether postpartum, expecting or in between. It is wonderful for reproductive health and is known to help with uterine tone. Even after this last baby, the medical staff and my midwife were astonished at how quickly my uterus "clamped down" and returned to its pre-pregnancy size. I credit the Red Raspberry Leaf for that!

http://community.babycenter.com/post/a32383331/where_to_find_red_raspberry_leaf_tea

Quote:

I drank that tea 3-4 times a day in my last 6 weeks of pregnancy. I had a csection with NO repeat PPH and only lost 300ml of blood durring my csection

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1079013/red-raspberry-leaf-tea-story#post_14148846

I drink RRLT throughout my pgcy. It is generally advised against for those at risk or with a history of preterm labor.

I usually start mine in the first trimester and continue to increase it throughout the pgcy.

I now (at 16wks) am drinking about 2TBSP in my tea, daily. I will increase it at 24, 28, 32, & 36 wks.

It is great to toning the uterus. For me, it has not "boosted labor", but it has made contractions for effecient. And made the pp bleeding drastically less, and my pp uterus clamps down much more effeciently and quickly.

http://thejoyofthis.com/2011/02/13/my-favorite-pregnancy-products-part-i/

Since June of 2010, I have attended approximately 45 or so births (I’ve kinda lost count, so I’m not exactly sure anymore). Around 30 of those being at the birth center where I work as an assistant to the Nurse Midwives.  As a Birth Assistant, directly after the birth of the baby, I massage mom’s uterus (a woman’s uterus should feel like a ruby-red grapefruit after giving birth) and I observe of the amount of postpartum bleeding she has (I know glamorous, right?).

I have noticed a pattern, without fail, the moms that drink plenty of red raspberry leaf tea throughout their third trimester have a very small amount of blood loss in comparison to those who don’t drink it. I mean, scant. Barely there. Did you really just have a baby 30 minutes ago? Aren’t you supposed to be bleeding?

Red raspberry leaf tea is what I would call a uterine tonic, it has been known to strengthen the muscles of the pelvis and uterus helping them contract more efficiently during labor.  In addition, and the real reason I’m writing about this is, red raspberry tea leaf can promote better blood circulation, which is useful in preventing postpartum hemorrhage. Isn’t that a nice bonus? It can also reduce the total amount of time a woman experiences postpartum bleeding, which typically last between 4-8 weeks. (UGH!)

[1babysmom]

That definitely rings true for me...with my births, I barely bled at all (none until placenta was fully out, then just like a period (though one time i did pass a couple good sized clots but nothing bad) and only for a couple days (heavier for the first couple of hours then tapering off), then light spotting for about a week.  REALLY mild.  So much BETTER than a regular period for me, actually.  And I only drink regular RRL tea, no infusions or anything.

[southernmommie]

I am so frustrated!! We moved into this place back in May. I haven't been able to unpack my boxes of books because a couple of my bookcases broke during the move. However, I can't find my book by Susan Weed during Childbearing years!! I have looked through everything!! I don't remember what the tea regime is. SO FRUSTRATED!!

[herbsgirl]

I have the book, what do you need?

[Cat77]

Hi ladies, officially joining this tribe now. I've been drinking bagged Traditional Medicinals Pregnancy Tea, and Alvita RRLT on and off, no real routine, since about week 22 or so of my pregnancy (I'm 35 weeks today). I finally orded some loose leaf last week and am now preparing to start the infusion regime. (Thanks for posting it herbsgirl)

Do you HAVE to use jars to let the tea steep for the 4+ hours? Can anyone share if they have just made their infusion or day's supply on the stove top in a big pot? Would that make any difference to the effectiveness of the herb?

[margosbachman]

I buy my red raspberry leaf and most of my other herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs: www.mountainroseherbs.com. They are an incredible company, committed to organic, sustainable products and carry tons of other amazing products.

I drank lots of red raspberry leaf tea in both of my pregnancies and savored every mugful! I loved adding other herbs such as nettles, alfalfa, milky oats and ginger for a nutrient rich, warming brew.
 

[herbsgirl]

No, you dont have to use Jars. There is a testemonial on this thread I think about using a big pot on the stove

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/347728/red-raspberry-leaf-tea-tribe/1100#post_10350886

bought my RRL loose and would make it in a really big saucepan (about a day and a half's worth of tea). I would bring the water to a boil and toss in a huge, overflowing, fluffy handful of RRL (I would sometimes add a bunch of alfalfa, maybe some hibiscus (yummy!) or a tea bag of some flavored tea (orange spice, peppermint, lemon,... for variation). I would let it steep, covered all day (or overnight). Sometimes I'd sweeten it with honey or brown sugar but usually I'd just drink it unsweetened (to avoid empty calories).

[Cat77]

Thanks herbsgirl!

[Jennyfriend1978]

I just spent three hours scanning this thread for birth stories lol. In any event, in the 1sttrimester my RRL made me very crampy and the midwife said not to drink as an infusion, just as a tea. I seemed to build up a tolerance to it so I began steeping it overnight and drank (continue to drink) about a quart per day.

I'm now almost 39 weeks and compared with my first pregnancy, BH are much stronger and more frequent (I actually dont rememer having any BH the first time around) They started late in the second trimester and continue to increase, especially after drinking the infusion.

I generally throw a handful each of RRL and nettles, 2 tbl. each of alfalfa, lemon balm, rose hips, and oat tops with a pinch of stevia into a pot. I know this is technically wrong, but I just bring the whole thing to a boil (you're supposed to boil the water first and then pour over herbs) and as soon as it rolls, I kill the heat and cap it for overnight. In the morning I strain it, transfer to a quart jar and move it to the fridge because I can't consume such a quantity of hot tea all day.

I would like to try the 1 ounce to 1 pint straight up RRL brew in labor but I'm concerned that it will taste absolutely disgusting because not only is it hot (yuk) 1 oz is pretty huge for only a pint. So I'm going to experiment with hot RRL brews, milk, and honey and see if I can gt past this enough to want to try it on my baby's birthday.

I should have an update very soon re: the birth and I'm looking forward to sharing. I didn't take any RRL at all with baby #1 so ths should make for an interesting comparison. One thing I do remember is that with DD1 I bled for nearly 6 weeks post partum, so am looking for an improvement here.

Also, I dont know if there is a connection, but I have had no m/s, no constipation, no hemmorhoids this pregnancy (or my last in all fairness, but that was 12 years ago when I was 22 and I'm now 34). I do however have godawful round ligament/pelvic girdle pain from 35 weeks on to the point that walking s uncomfortable.

Ok, that's my overview. I'll check ack in with a full RRL and birth report soon!