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Red Raspberry Leaf Tea tribe

417K views 2K replies 803 participants last post by  jane28edelweiss 
#1 ·
Okay, I'm going to give it a try--several of us are trying a RRL tea regimen during our pregnancies to see if it makes a difference in labor & birth. I thought it might be nice to have a tribal area where we can post about the specifics of the program: checking in to make sure we are drinking our daily "dose", where to find good supplies of the tea, ways to make the tea more palatable (although I have no problems with the taste, I know that not EVERYONE loves it!
), etc.

For anyone who hasn't seen the original "Red Raspberry Leaf Tea Story" thread, here it is (taken from Rodale's Encyclopedia):

The Raspberry Leaf Tea Story

Tea made from raspberry leaves is the best-known herbal aid in pregnancy. Rather than go into all the traditional lore about this herb, we present the following lengthy account, because it is both contemporaneous and highly specific.

"My mother was born and raised in Scotland, coming to america at the age of 26. Whenever a member of her family became ill or had a health problem, her mother had consulted an herbalist or herb doctor. As a result of this, I was treated with herbs as a child.
"Mother had always told me that red raspberry leaf tea would prevent miscarriage and was excellent for pregnany and chilbirth. When I became pregnant, I immediately sent for some raspberry leaf tea and began taking one cup of it each day, made from one teaspoon of dried leaves added to one cup of boiling water and steeped for 15 minutes. I had a very normal pregnancy. Then I went into labor, I truly expected to have an easy labor and delivery because I had faithfully taken the tea. While it is true that I did not have a complicated or extremely difficult time, it was not by any means easy. The tea had not lived up to my expectations.
"It was not until sometimes after the birth of my daughter that I read a book my mother had brought with her from Scotland entitled Dragged to Light by W.H. Box of Plymouth, England. In it I found the secret of just how to take the tea so it would truly work wonders during labor and delivery. Box said, 'On one ounce of raspberry leaves pour one pint of boiling water, cover and let steep for 30 minutes. Strain, and when the time for delivery is approaching drink the whole as hot as possible.'
"There were a number of testimonials in the book written by women who had used this herb. Several took the strong solution over a period of time before going into labor. They were instructed in that case to take a wineglassful three times a day. They had 'only two stiff pains and it was all over' or 'no after pains and very slight before.' They never made it out of the house. Box's instructions were, 'But those who take the tea considerably before the time should not leave the house when the time is approaching as many mothers are delivered almost suddenly when at their work, to the great veaxtion of doctors and nurses.'
"When I became pregnant again I was determined to try it that way. I still took a cup a day as I had before. but this time when I went into labor I made a strong solution of it as I had read in the book. I put it in a container and took it to the hospital with me. I wasn't sure how quickly it would work and I didn't want to have the baby in the car. I didn't think they'd allow me to drink it in the hospital so I drank half of it in the parking lot. I was afraid to drink all of it as it was so strong and I didn't personally know anyone who had taken it this strong before. I had been having strong contractions but by the time I registered and was taken up to the labor room the contractions were so mild I hardly felt them. Upon examination they said I was ready to deliver and would not even give me an enema. In the delivery room I was quite comfortable and hardly felt anything. One hour after entering the hospital my son was born.
"In the recovery room there were several other young women who had just given birth also. They were moaning abd groaning. I couldn't imagine what they were making a fuss about as I felt like I could have gotten up and gone home. I had always read and heard about women getting after-pains with a second child. I never had even one. This was also the testimony of a number of women who were treated with the tea by Box.
"Later I thought I would have had an easy time anyway since it was my second child. I was anxious for someon else to try it. A friend of mine was expection a baby in a few weeks and she had been taking a cup of the tea daily and was also goig to take the strong solution when she went into labor. She had had two previous pregnancies and both times nearly miscarried and had to take drugs and be in bed a good deal of the time. Both deliveries were extremely difficult. When she became pregnant this time she began spotting and it looked like she would have to go through the same kind of trouble she had before. Having used an herb I had given her for another problem, with success, she asked if there was an herb for this problem and I recommended raspberry leaf tea.
"She started taking it and the spotting stopped immediately and she had a normal pregnancy, much to the amazement of her family who remembered her difficulties in the past. When she went into labor she took the tea as I had and told me she had only 25 minutes of hard labor before her baby was born.
"I have told a number of women about this amazing herb through the years, but no one else seemed interested enough to try it. However, 1978 my daughter became pregnant and she was very much interested in having an easy delivery. She took the tea each day and had a normal pregnancy. She, too, took the strong solution of the tea with her to the hospital and also being a little wary drank only half of it. When the doctor examined her, it was late in the evening. He said the baby wouldn't be born until six o'clock in the the morning so he went hime. She was having hard contractions at this time and I was very disappointed and felt the tea hadn't worked. An hour and a half later we recieved a call from our son-in-law saying we had a little grandson. The tea started working and the doctor had no sooner reached his home when he had to turn around and come right back to the hospital. My daughter said the next time she is going to drink all of the tea." -- I.A., Utah
 
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#1,828 ·
NOpe-I could NEVER fit it all ina tea ball-I also add nettles & alfalfa. I make 2 quarts at a time in a glass bowl, then strain it ;)
 
#1,829 ·
Thanks! Yes, the tea ball is just not working. Maybe for one cup at a time with only 1 tsp of leaves it would be better. I just remembered I already own this Takeya tea maker set, so last night I used that. http://www.amazon.com/Takeya-2-Piece-Silicone-66-Ounce-25-Ounce/dp/B003DTLN38/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1297173120&sr=8-3 I need to get my tea leaf to water ratios down!! :)

The smaller tea pitcher is 25 oz, and I drank the whole thing. I guess that's a bit more than I should have in the 2nd trimester, though.
 
#1,830 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by soccerchic21 View Post

I had my baby 4 weeks ago. I started taking RRLT around my 20th week. I took a glass a day for a while and then up to three glasses a day. It wasn't religiously. The last few weeks of my pregnancy I started taking more and the day labor started I took a very concentrated dose and then promptly threw it up. I just took the tea packets that are found in the natural food aisles of Fred Meyer.

This is my third and I was looking forward to a VBAC during my pregnancy. Thankfully I did get one. My labor while painful was very manageable until transition and that is when it got more intense but I still handled it all. My active labor was just under 7 hours which is very fast for me (around 18 hours with the first and 12 with my second). I went from 4 centimeters to 8 in an hour. And then my daughter was born around an hour later.

My baby shot out in under three pushes. With the first push she had crowned.

I think the RRLT definitely strengthened my uterus and I would recommend it.
Thank you for your wonderful story. It's so encouraging!
 
#1,831 ·
So far, I have never had a problem with long labors. My longest was 6 hours. Or, the one that was 38 hours but thats only counting from when water first broke. Contractions didn't start until 36 hours after PROM and I onoy labored for 2 hours. Also had a 3, and a 4 hour birth. I am interested in the tea though because I have had probs in the past with bleeding after and uterus being a little lazy about clamping down. Also, my placenta was being stubborn about coming out last time. I think the tea and uterine toning especially with the nettles and alfalfa mixed in will help with blood building and strengthening the uterus. I am looking forward to sharing my experience after delivery this time to see if it helped.

Also wondering if this will shorten all that prodromal labor I always have. Uterus just seems to start up but peter out over and over again for days or even weeks before finally establishing a good labor pattern. I believe that is why my actual labors are so short, so much work is done ahead of time. However, all that "Is this really it? to be having timable contractions for hours just to fall asleep and wake up the next day with NOTHING. is annoying.

Can't wait to see the results.
 
#1,832 ·
I am only 7 weeks along with my first but I have been enjoying my organic RRL tea daily for the last few weeks on the suggestion of my Naturopath.

I love the taste and its a great alternative to my usual regime of camomile, mint and lotus flower teas. I've also have been adding in a nettle brew every now and then and am glad to have such a nice tea arsenal for the next little while since i am staying away from my usual greens.

I usually fill my big SS travel mug with a single bag and q6 oz of hot water and drink it after the water is bearable - maybe 10 minutes of steeping. I always leave the bag in.

I did feel a slight "crampy" feeling this morning after my RRL brew. Guess it is working to tone the uterus: )
 
#1,833 ·
Hi gang. Well, a friend just gifted me some loose RRL. After reading some of the encouraging stories here I can't wait to start... (My labor with DD1 was extremely long and difficult. I'm willing to try anything for a better experience this time!) But, I'm already 38 weeks pregnant. Is this a good idea?

If so, how would I prepare loose tea: How much tea/water? How long to steep? etc.

Thanks mamas!
 
#1,834 ·
I'm wanting to try this for this pregnancy. I'm actually almost 32 weeks now so I'm a little late to the game but I'm going to pick some up and start drinking it from now until labor. I haven't had an issue with long labors. DD was 7 hrs flat from water breaking to out, no signs of impending labor before then. DS was a couple weeks of prodromal labor, dilated for 2-3 weeks before even up to 3 cm that week before and then born in 5 hrs. I'm attempting a natural birth this time though (went to 7-8cm with ds and caved because they wanted to break my waters and stuff) so I want to prepare my body as much as possible and hope for an easy labor. I'm mostly concerned that my fast labors with make things extremely intense and I'll want to cave again so I'm trying to prepare. I hope the tea will help make things easier!

snuggly: I wasn't sure about any of that either but there's some good info in the first page or two of this thread. HTH.
 
#1,835 ·
I'm currently TTC and on a fertility blend of RRL, Nettles, Burdock Root, Alfalfa, and Chaste Berry. I just started drinking it strong 3-4 times daily for the last week and a half or so. I tested for ovulation and it was positive yesterday. (can't find the smileys with the two of them humping, so use your imagination:) I'm hoping this blend will get this pregnancy ball rolling because my sister-in-law is already pregnant after just one try and we are trying to have babies around the same time. The lady who made this blend said these herbs were all safe before during and after pregnancy ( I'm currently nursing a 13 month old as well). I question her credibility though because she was also trying to add mint after I had told her I was nursing, and even I know mint dries up your milk. Do any of you know if i can continue this mixture of herbs after I become pregnant? Or should I just purchase a new batch with just RRL and nettles?
 
#1,836 ·
I recently switched my RRL tea from Traditional Medicinals tea bags to Starwest Botanicals (I bought through Amazon) and I just wanted to come back to this thread and say that the loose tea DEFINITELY has a better taste (IMO) than the bagged tea. I was wondering how I'd be able to drink so much RRL when I was using the bags. The loose tea seems fresher, or just ...different in a good way. So if you are on the fence about the taste, maybe give the loose leaves a try!
teapot2.GIF
 
#1,837 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarah Potter View Post

Quote:
Do any of you know if i can continue this mixture of herbs after I become pregnant? Or should I just purchase a new batch with just RRL and nettles?
Chasteberry isn't recommended during pregnancy. Most people stop using it as soon as they get a bfp.
 
#1,838 ·
someone in another post said they found an article that stated that rrl tea affects milk supply (increasing it short term but decreasing it with long term use. May be worth looking into if you plan to breastfeed.
 
#1,839 ·
Okay, I shopped around for quite a while before decided what to get. I knew it would be better to get loose tea for cost and I knew I wanted to add the other herbs my midwife suggested along with the RRL such as nettles and alfalfa, oatstraw, and I wanted a few just for the taste since the last time I tried RRL tea I hated the bitterness of it. The only herbal tea I ever enjoyed was Celestial Seasonings "Sleepytime Tea". Didn't think any combination of herbs I did would taste as good.

The pricing on all the diffferent herbs I wanted to use to make my own blend was really adding up. Too expensive. Then I found a link someone else posted for where they got their blend. A lady on Etsy (seller name "teasandtapestries") makes her own tea blends and one is a pregnancy tea. Here are the ingredients:

Organic Ingredients: Raspberry Leaf, Nettle Root, Lemon Balm Leaves, Oat Tops, Alfalfa Leaves, Strawberry Leaves, Rose Hips, Rose Petals, Ginger, Peppermint Leaves, Chocolate Mint Leaves

I just got it in yesterday and had my first cup today. I was surprised by the smell and taste. It was wonderful! Only very faint mint (sometimes it can be too much in teas) it was very mild and nice. I drank it without any sweetener no problem! I highly reccomend this tea and it was much easier than buying all those herbs myself. She took a custom order for me and made me a larger amount.

If anyone is looking for a blend that has all the right stuff in it and tastes great without costing a fortune here is the link and it lists plenty of info on each herb and what they are for.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/64313289/organic-pregnancy-blend-for-pregnant

And here is the link to her store in case that one sells and disappears later.

http://www.etsy.com/people/teasandtapestries?ref=ls_profile
 
#1,840 ·
thanks so much for this link! I think I'm going to order this one too. How large was your custom order and how much did it cost? I'd like to contact her to do the same.

Quote:
Originally Posted by sharita View Post

Okay, I shopped around for quite a while before decided what to get. I knew it would be better to get loose tea for cost and I knew I wanted to add the other herbs my midwife suggested along with the RRL such as nettles and alfalfa, oatstraw, and I wanted a few just for the taste since the last time I tried RRL tea I hated the bitterness of it. The only herbal tea I ever enjoyed was Celestial Seasonings "Sleepytime Tea". Didn't think any combination of herbs I did would taste as good.

The pricing on all the diffferent herbs I wanted to use to make my own blend was really adding up. Too expensive. Then I found a link someone else posted for where they got their blend. A lady on Etsy (seller name "teasandtapestries") makes her own tea blends and one is a pregnancy tea. Here are the ingredients:

Organic Ingredients: Raspberry Leaf, Nettle Root, Lemon Balm Leaves, Oat Tops, Alfalfa Leaves, Strawberry Leaves, Rose Hips, Rose Petals, Ginger, Peppermint Leaves, Chocolate Mint Leaves

I just got it in yesterday and had my first cup today. I was surprised by the smell and taste. It was wonderful! Only very faint mint (sometimes it can be too much in teas) it was very mild and nice. I drank it without any sweetener no problem! I highly reccomend this tea and it was much easier than buying all those herbs myself. She took a custom order for me and made me a larger amount.

If anyone is looking for a blend that has all the right stuff in it and tastes great without costing a fortune here is the link and it lists plenty of info on each herb and what they are for.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/64313289/organic-pregnancy-blend-for-pregnant

And here is the link to her store in case that one sells and disappears later.

http://www.etsy.com/people/teasandtapestries?ref=ls_profile
 
#1,841 ·
I'm already 37 weeks and some days, so I'm way late in the game, but I wouldn't take any herbs in a tea form (except a nettle and roobois) before being full-term anyway, just because of my personal fear of going into pre-term labor, but now I'm seriously thinking of starting to drink some of the RRL tea. I am scared of labor, of course, as this is my first child ... I also received homeopathic pills containing Arnica and Blue Cohosh. I will definitely take the Arnica during labor, but I'm unsure about Blue Cohosh (it just sounds a little scary when I read about it). Do you think I should either do RRL tea OR Blue Cohosh - not mix the two together? Does anyone have an opinion on the topic?

I don't want to overdo it or risk anything ... but mainly, I don't want to risk protracted labor and possible induction/c-section.

Thanks
lips.gif
 
#1,842 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wilhelmina View Post

I'm already 37 weeks and some days, so I'm way late in the game, but I wouldn't take any herbs in a tea form (except a nettle and roobois) before being full-term anyway, just because of my personal fear of going into pre-term labor, but now I'm seriously thinking of starting to drink some of the RRL tea. I am scared of labor, of course, as this is my first child ... I also received homeopathic pills containing Arnica and Blue Cohosh. I will definitely take the Arnica during labor, but I'm unsure about Blue Cohosh (it just sounds a little scary when I read about it). Do you think I should either do RRL tea OR Blue Cohosh - not mix the two together? Does anyone have an opinion on the topic?

I don't want to overdo it or risk anything ... but mainly, I don't want to risk protracted labor and possible induction/c-section.

Thanks
lips.gif
No expert, but RRL tea does not cause preterm labor as far as I know-- it strengthens the uterus muscle. Unless you MW/doctor specifically tells you to NOT use it, I would think you'd be fine. Women have been using RRL tea for a looong time (hundreds...thousands? of years!) If anything, the tea will help your uterus work more efficiently, push more efficiently, and get the baby out easier/faster, which will help you AVOID a c-section!
smile.gif


I'd think at 37 weeks you are safe to drink up, mama!
 
#1,843 ·
I've only heard of people taking arnica after labor, not during. RRL tones the uterus, it doesn't start labor, and I've never heard any concerns about it causing a protracted labor. Any concerns are more in the opposite direction.
 
#1,844 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by egmaranian View Post

thanks so much for this link! I think I'm going to order this one too. How large was your custom order and how much did it cost? I'd like to contact her to do the same.
I paid 18.00 (I think 22 after shipping) for 4 oz by weight which I was worried wouldn't be a large amount but it was. After I got it and realized not only was it more than I though, but it was super packed so when I transferred it to an airtight jar, it was even more. Also after making a few batches now (about a tbs per cup, though directions say tsp per cup) I know it will last. She also does 8 oz for 36.00. The tea is not only great tasting but pretty and smells great. Its so colorful and aromatic, I could almost use it as poppouri, lol.
 
#1,845 ·
The original labor infusion says one ounce of leaves in one pint of boiling water. Semi-firmly packed for me, one ounce of leaves is about one cup of leaves. I spooned them in and used the spoon to pack them down a bit. So, one cup of leaves over one pint (16 oz or 2 cups) is the labor infusion recipe.

Is this about right?
 
#1,846 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beauchamp View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wilhelmina View Post

I'm already 37 weeks and some days, so I'm way late in the game, but I wouldn't take any herbs in a tea form (except a nettle and roobois) before being full-term anyway, just because of my personal fear of going into pre-term labor, but now I'm seriously thinking of starting to drink some of the RRL tea. I am scared of labor, of course, as this is my first child ... I also received homeopathic pills containing Arnica and Blue Cohosh. I will definitely take the Arnica during labor, but I'm unsure about Blue Cohosh (it just sounds a little scary when I read about it). Do you think I should either do RRL tea OR Blue Cohosh - not mix the two together? Does anyone have an opinion on the topic?

I don't want to overdo it or risk anything ... but mainly, I don't want to risk protracted labor and possible induction/c-section.

Thanks
lips.gif
No expert, but RRL tea does not cause preterm labor as far as I know-- it strengthens the uterus muscle. Unless you MW/doctor specifically tells you to NOT use it, I would think you'd be fine. Women have been using RRL tea for a looong time (hundreds...thousands? of years!) If anything, the tea will help your uterus work more efficiently, push more efficiently, and get the baby out easier/faster, which will help you AVOID a c-section!
smile.gif


I'd think at 37 weeks you are safe to drink up, mama!
According to many sources - coming from the medical community especially - RRL tea is not to be used during pregnancy, especially before the 37th week because of the possibility of it stimulating the uterus and bringing on premature labor. I guess we could discuss forever whether that is true or not ... And since I was worried about it already, I didn't want to do something that I would later on regret doing .... If that makes any sense. I've always been a very hippie-like herb-loving person that tried natural remedies before anything else, but now, that a little baby is involved, I am not ready to take the possible risk. However, now that I'm well full-term, I'm thinking I can finally - with a clear conscience - try some herbs. I'm opting for homeopathics as the dillution level of the herbs is so high, but RRL tea has been so well-recommended that I'm willing to try it on top of the homeopathics ... or maybe in their stead.

I am a worry worm, in short :) I'd be stoked if I could talk to someone that used homeopathics in labor (namely blue cohosh and arnica).

Thanks for a reply :)
 
#1,847 ·
I'm not an herbalist by any stretch, but I know arnica is used topically for sore muscle relief.

I am pretty sure it was given to me after a rough labor with the idea that it helps with all the swelling and strain and aching... I would think that it's not related to encouraging labor, but rather being a support measure for during/after labor.

As for the cohoshes... I'm thinking I don't like the idea of a tincture but might look into the homepathic versions. I too would love to hear more about the safety - for the baby.

If I can't find anything reassuring I'll continue drinking RRL and then doing a moderate Castor Oil dose when the time comes.

I HAVE noticed that my Braxton Hicks are very strong this time around. I wonder if that's the RRL? I can actually feel a pretty serious 'squeezing' sensation in some of them, which I don't really recall much in my previous (first) pregnancy.
 
#1,849 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by DanelleB View Post

From what I understand, it's common for BH contx to be more frequent/stronger during a second pregnancy.
smile.gif
I didn't have BH Contx at all with my first two pregnancies; this time i have been drinking RLT since 2nd tri and sure enough im getting BH all the time...they are manageable and i've never found them to be anything more than uncomfortable...But if it's going to make labor at all shorter it is well worth it....
 
#1,850 ·
Hope I don't offend anyone with this but...I must take issue with the assumption that RRL tea or tablets will produce a better labor. There is NO research which confirms this. Women's experiences are variable and can be attributed to other factors such as parity (number of babies you've had), genetics (women often imitate their mothers in labor and birth style, though this too is totally anecdotal) and fear factor, plus luck. I am by no means anti-herbal, I love Spirulina, for instance, as it produces measurable increases in Hemoglobin levels and boosts women's well-being. But it bothers me a lot that women attribute a "good" birth to RRL when, in all probability, they would have had it anyway.

If you look back over the posts you will see a number of women had negative experiences in spite of taking it, and there is no standard dosage, or time frame to take it. This wouldn't matter except that obviously thousands of women don't trust their bodies to get the job done, and there is an awful lot of fear surrounding the birth process. And I get irritated by the belief in the supposed effect that RRL supposedly has on uterine functions - Braxton Hicks contractions are universal but sometimes are strong (often due to baby's position that day) or not detectable. This has nothing to do with RRL. And premature birth - if RRL really worked, it would either be on the poisons register for bringing on preterm labor or we wouldn't need the induction drugs we are currently using in hospitals!

In my view we should forget about specifics like RRL and concentrate on the things we know work - superb nutrition, exercise and rest and optimal fetal positioning. The women I care for get good education and learn to assume that their body will deliver the goods on the day, all things being equal. Of course, in the Western medical system you are very likely to have fear and interference in your labor and birth, best avoided by staying away from hospital as long as possible. RRL may work because of the placebo effect (if you think it will work your body acts as though it is working) but really, all pregnant bodies have the inate ability to give birth to the baby they grew. so, in my opinion, save your money and trust your body!
 
#1,852 ·
From here:

Quote:

Most of the benefits ascribed to regular use of Raspberry tea through pregnancy are traced to the nourishing source of vitamins and minerals found in this plant and to the strengthening power of fragrine - an alkaloid which gives tone to the muscles of the pelvic region, including the uterus itself. Of special note are the rich concentration of vitamin C, the presence of vitamin E and the easily assimilated calcium and iron. Raspberry leaves also contain vitamins A and B complex and many minerals, including phosphorous and potassium.
Sounds like we are nourishing our bodies. And if it comes with a hope of a shortened/easier labor, what's the harm?
 
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