Red Raspberry Leaf Tea tribe - Page 109

[herbsgirl]

Well, I have gestational diabetes, so by drinking it, its a way I can control my blood sugar better.  I  get hungry quicker if I drink RRL after I eat.

I am going in for a pitocen induction tommarow my due date, tried an induction on Tuesday, while it did start to do something, it didnt do significantly alot... Still drinking my RRL infusions pretty faithfully.  Ive missed less than a week the whole 3rd trimester. Ive been drinking close to 1 oz for 4-5 weeks and I upped it to 1 oz at 37 weeks. Uterus seems strong, but everything still needs to be just right for LO to be born, her head needs to drop down into pelvis more. Would appriciate prayers for a safe birth before during and after for me and baby. Hoping RRL helps and I can have a good birth, God willing!

[1babysmom]

That is very interesting for GD!  RRL does satiate me for a time but it doesn't make me eat less, unfortunately. 

Definitely praying it's a quick and easy process for you!!!!!  Good luck!!

[kellykins]

I bought a lb of rrl at the end of my pregnancy with my second (3.5 years ago) and it has been in the freezer since. I was not good about using it and used it very weak compared to what is described here ( something like a tablespoon to a 10oz mug). Ended up two weeks past date and hemmoraged badly - enough to nearly need a transfusion.
I am now 36 weeks (ok almost 36 weeks) and am just now getting out the rrl.... The same rrl that was in the deep freeze for 3 years. I assume it is still good?
I am currently making an infusion as described in this thread -scaled- to 2cup water, 1/2cup rrl tea.... I also added chamomile, lavender and rose hip ( a pinch of that, a sprinkle of this....)
I am now in the care of a great OB as my MW moved to Alaska and I had some issues early on. She is usually very easy going with going past dates but with my history would like to see that not happen again - but using as natural methods as possible for getting things going. I figure RRL will not hurt:)

Anodyne know how long rrl keeps? Like I said, mine has been in the freezer for 3 years- but a deep freeze, non self defrosting one.

[merenwen]

Kelly, I could be wrong but herbs do have an expiry date. They don't go bad per se, but they do loose their medicinal properties.

Frozen herbs are to be used within 6 months, dried herbs within a year. So I'm not sure your RRL will be helpful.

I hope another member can prove me wrong though .

QUESTION to everyone:

I've been drinking (almost) faithfully my RRL for the past 2 months. I'm almost 18 weeks now and I've been having some strong BH.

My midwife got a bit concerned and checked my cervix: all good. Baby's doing great, belly is the right size.

However, she told me that my womb is really tonic and tight which means I'm going to get more and more of those. Great .

So here's my question: is it a good idea to carry on with the RRL tea ? So far I take 2 tsp for a cup of water, usually steeping for 5/10min.

I'm also supposed to take some spasfon but I don't really want to. Any herbs I could safely ad to the RRL to relax my womb ?

Thanks in advance !

 

[echospiritwarrior]

I always had very sting BH all my pgs

[merenwen]

Originally Posted by echospiritwarrior 

I always had very sting BH all my pgs

And you drank RRLT nonetheless ?

[plumbermama]

Herbsgirl, wondering how everything went for you??? Praying that if you are still in the midst of the birth that everything is going well for you and the little one.... 

On another note, I am due on the 19 of March, 2013 and am up to 1/2 cup of RRLT in 4 cups of water steeped for an hour.  I plan on upping in small amounts as the weeks go on but so far feel absolutely nothing other than a little light headed after I down a couple cups.  I got my sister to start drinking to help with her heavy periods and she had 1 cup with a tsp. of RRLT steeped for 10 min. and then had crazy cramps for twenty min. after... What gives?  I have never felt what a BH contraction feels like with my first pregnancy or this one and haven't ever noticed a twinge no matter how much or how strong I make it.  Are some people just really sensitive to herbs and the like?

 

[kellykins]

Well, I drank the tea I made with the old RRL I had in the freezer, no effect on how I felt, which was a surprise as I was expecting at least a tightening feeling this late on in pg.  I got some more at Whole Foods and made the tea again yesterday (I did 1/2cup RRL to 2 cup water, steep just over an hour.  Also added some rosehip, chamomile and nettle to the mix.)  Same big ol' nothing effect.  I went ahead and ordered another 1lb bag through amazon (tip: if you happen to have Prime, you can order Frontier organic RRL in bulk from amazon for about $2 more a pound than what youw ould pay Frontier wholesale, and Frontier charges shipping!)  Hoping that since it will still be in a sealed pack it will be as fresh as can be and will be high test stuff. ;)

I am "due" on the 30th of this month but she has my permission to come out after the16th, lol my daughets birthday party :)

[sarakrahn]

I have been following this thread and finally decided to join. I'm 17 week along and was wondering how much rrlt I should drink to start off and what to build up to. And also should I take the tea or the infusion which, as I understand, is much stronger. 

[AshleeRose]

Can you still get the benefits of RRL tea if you decide to wait until you are full term (37 weeks)? How many cups a day at this point in your pregnancy? 

I'm 18 weeks tomorrow and I have 2 very healthy previous pregnancies, but I would rather just wait a bit to start drinking it.

[kellykins]

Well, that was wierd... Trying to confirm I had my mix right and I stumbled upon my first post to this thread.... in 2005!! wild.  

Ashlee, I would think it would still do the job.. I am 37.5 weeks and have not been consistent about the tea as of yet.  I have a strong infusion mix going right now - which is what I thought I remembered to do? I have the 1 packed cup leaves to 4 cups water and steep for up to an hour mix going now. This will be my second "batch" at this strength.  I will drink this a cup at a time over the course of today and tomorrow.  I am not positive I am doing this right, so don't take my word for it :)

[1babysmom]

Anybody here have an opinion on "tooo much" RRL tea?? I am not really concerned about getting too much because I just don't believe it to be much of a risk (I drink a strong tea 2-3 times a day) but the topic has come up on a few places lately and I wondered what this group thought.

[purpledragonfly]

Alright, so I said I would post when I had my baby. The labor was quite intense, so I think my uterus was very toned indeed, thanks for sure in part to the rrlt. Lasted 6 1/2 hr, short 15 min pushing phase, only 2 small pushes of it were actually voluntary on my part, the rest was involuntary, so easy on my part. My first labor was 13 1/2 hr. with a hard 3 hr pushing phase.

[purpledragonfly]

Oh, and I drank rrlt with my first, and the infusion with my second.

[sandwiches]

I have a side note about RRL. My DH has chronic neck pain from tension and I realized RRL might help. I have been brewing strong iced tea with lime, red zinger and stevia and we've both been drinking about 2 glasses a day. He said it helped him immediately! He is a super skeptic and doesn't believe in "witch doctor stuff" as he calls it, lol. But he swears by this. He said he can tell when he needs to drink another glass. Has anyone had any other side benefits beyond a super toned uterus?

[yallcomeback]

So everyone says the tea gives *more* BH... I've been doing infusion since 14 weeks, I'm now 24 weeks (with twins) and I hardly get any BH except on the rare days when I don't drink my infusion. Anyone else experience this?? Is it a negative thing?

[Quinalla]

RRL tea never gives me BH, first birth was fast and intense, could just be the way I birth, but I think the RRL tea at least helped!

[xiola]

I'm ordering my RRL now. I'll have to come back and get the instructions. I know with both of my girls I drank it starting at like 30 weeks and both labors were great! 8 hours and 1 1/2 hours. With my last one being so fast I'm curious as to what will happen this time. 

[inconditus]

I'm not going to lie... I haven't read all the pages so I'm sorry if this was mentioned somewhere in the last several years 

I'm 23 weeks, starting RRLT now after deciding to forgo a Rhogam shot and take my 1-2% chances of being sensitized during pregnancy. I've read from several sources that altering diet and drinking this tea can lower your chances even more of having a negative response to LO. Does anyone know the amount of tea I should be drinking? When I try to look it up or read about it the amount is never mentioned or "good amount." Whatever that means.

I just got some today and blah is it expensive. $5 for 16 tea packages (the only kind my healthfoood store sold.) I'm hoping to find some loose but, say, if I were to keep that style and drank 3 cups a day that would be $30ish a month, plus my stupid expensive NOW prenatals would be $60 a month. Blah. I know it's good for baby but I'm wondering if there is an online vendor that sells significantly cheaper. I'm going to check out an herb shop by my MW this upcoming thursday. 

[hollydolls]

Originally Posted by inconditus 

I just got some today and blah is it expensive. $5 for 16 tea packages (the only kind my healthfoood store sold.) I'm hoping to find some loose but, say, if I were to keep that style and drank 3 cups a day that would be $30ish a month, plus my stupid expensive NOW prenatals would be $60 a month. Blah. I know it's good for baby but I'm wondering if there is an online vendor that sells significantly cheaper. I'm going to check out an herb shop by my MW this upcoming thursday. 

I purchased all the herbs myself and made it at home. I think I got them from the Bulk Herb Store. (They have tea bags that you can iron to seal and use if you prefer that method, but I just did loose.) I also was able to customize what I was drinking -- more or less raspberry leaf as the pregnancy progressed, for example.

I also got rose hips, nettles, oat straw, alfalfa, and lemon balm. I think I spent about $65 and it lasted through my pregnancy. I don't think I used even half. I made it using about 1/4c herbs to 12oz of water.