[tonia_jo]

I've read different things about drinking red raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy, and was wondering what everyone thought? I have some lying around, but haven't been drinking it... I feel like everything I've read has 3 different sides of when to drink it, how much, etc. Some seem to say it can be good while others disagree - Was wondering what you ladies thought!

 

[butterfly1001]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>tonia_jo</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10533445"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I've read different things about drinking red raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy, and was wondering what everyone thought? I have some lying around, but haven't been drinking it... I feel like everything I've read has 3 different sides of when to drink it, how much, etc. Some seem to say it can be good while others disagree - Was wondering what you ladies thought!</div>
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Well, somewhere on MDC, I found a thread about drinking it.... The midwife at the Birth Center where I WAS going said she drank it the last month of all her pregnancies. She told me not to drink it during my pregnancy except the last month. Then, the last month.... instead of drinking 8 - 8oz glasses of water, drink 8-8oz glasses of tea. That seemed a bit weird to me. Now my new midwife says she recommends it the whole pregnancy. I drank it every now and then my first trimester, now that I'm in my 2nd, I drink 2 glasses (cold) a day, and I'm going to try to drink 3 a day in my 3rd trimester. Then, when I go into labor, I'll make a big strong quart of it and drink it... we'll see! I buy the bulk cut red raspberry leaves from mountainroseherbs.com. Yum.

 

[LianneM]

I drink it, with nettles as well. My mw recommends it pre-pgcy as well as during.

 

[Kylahroo]

My MW also recommends it throughout pregnancy. Keeps asking me if I'm drinking it! I just don't think to. It's not that I don't want to. I just need to get in the habit. Buying bulk herbs would probably help. If I had a bunch sitting in the fridge, I'd more likely drink it regularly.<br><br>
Does anyone know how long it would last refrigerated?

 

[rissierae]

I've only heard good things about it. My midwife told me to start drinking it, but never said how much. I've been having a couple cups a week. Is there a "standard" amount that I'm supposed to be drinking?

 

[BlueMoonBean]

I know that it's ok to drink throughout the pregnancy, but I make sure that I'm really well hydrated before I drink any... if I'm at all dehydrated, the "toning" feels a lot like contractions... I can definitely tell an uptick in my braxton hicks after I've had a tall glass.<br><br>
Kylahroo - I make a big jug of it and keep it in the fridge. It lasts about the same as any other type of chilled tea, tastes fine for several days, at least. I live in the South, in the land of sweet tea, so I've had friends reach in and pour a glass, expecting supersweet syrupy black tea, and get quite the surprise when they take a chug of my pregnancy tea. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> Never had anyone make that mistake twice....

 

[Barcino]

I drink it - about a cup every other day I would say. I think it tastes pretty gross. I am a tea junkie and I am used amazing teas and this one just tastes like grass to me LOL <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin">

 

[tonia_jo]

Funny, I don't remember the taste much, so now I'm curious! I'll have to start making some hot water. I think it's a great idea to be hydrated first - I think the main reason I've been reluctant to drink it is the toning/contraction feeling.

 

[Kylahroo]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>BlueMoonBean</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10535870"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Kylahroo - I make a big jug of it and keep it in the fridge. It lasts about the same as any other type of chilled tea, tastes fine for several days, at least.</div>
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BlueMoonBean, what is your "recipe"? I don't make tea much, at least not without bags! I'm going to buy some in bulk - what do I do with it next?

 

[BlueMoonBean]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Kylahroo</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/10537515"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">BlueMoonBean, what is your "recipe"? I don't make tea much, at least not without bags! I'm going to buy some in bulk - what do I do with it next?</div>
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I can't believe I'm going to have to admit this <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/bag.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Bag">: but, I don't make it.... DH does. He's a good southern boy and has a touch with cold teas. I'll ask him exactly what procedure he uses and get back to you.

 

[KrisCrunch]

My great grandmother swore that is was good when ttc but to never drink it until the end of your pregnancy. She passed away a few years ago and I'm not sure why you shouldn't drink it but she was right about a lot of other things so I will be taking her advice.

 

[mamaspirit]

My midwife has me drinking a quart a day. I actually drink an herbal infusion of nettle leaf, alfalfa, oatstraw and Red raspberry leaf. I steep it over night in a quart jar, strain it the next morning and drink it all day... You can mix it with other tea if the flavor bothers you.

 

[LianneM]

I buy mine in bulk and make it in a coffee maker - so I use a regular coffee filter for the tea. Works great! I usually add a couple of bags of Celestial Seasonings raspberry tea too. I also sweeten mine, usually with honey or agave, maybe a little sugar, keep it in a pitcher in the fridge. Then I water it down a lot when I drink it and add ice <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin">

 

[skg_7]

I add ginger to mine to make it taste a little better. I avoided it during the 1st trimester but now try to drink a cup a day. My naturopath recommends 2 cups a day in the 3rd trimester.

 

[Jeanne_L]

I was just reading about this somewhere... (maybe Mothering Mag? I'll try to double check my source)... it said that in large quantities RRL tea might interfere with mineral absorption.

 

[devilish_fetish]

Not in your DDC, but just noticed this and thought i'd chip in my .02 My midwife reccommends red raspbery leaf all throughout pregnancy. I've had really bad pregnancy brain, so instead of making tea and drinking it, i bought a red raspberry leaf tincture. I just put a dropperful into a drink everyday and drink it. By itself it tastes (and smells) like Jack Daniels. In water, it tastes like very very weak tea. I can't even taste it if i put it in anything other than water. I find this is alot easier for me than remembering to make tea. And it fits in my purse, so i can have it when i'm on the go!

 

[Lizafava]

I drink a couple coups a day at least. I have a big glass jar on my counter full of Nettles, RRL and peppermint. I just ordered some rosehips, so I'll add that soon. Anyway, its really easy to just scoop a couple spoonfuls into a t<a href="http://www.teeccino.com.au/tool_pics/Image5.jpg" target="_blank">ea infuser</a>. Much, much, much cheaper than bagged tea. I buy tea by the pound from my co-op - a pound of RRL is only about 10 dollars! Thats about half a paper grocery bag full of tea ......<br><br>
French presses are also great for making infusions.

 

[klink2]

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<div style="font-style:italic;">. By itself it tastes (and smells) like Jack Daniels.</div>
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AACk! Just the thought makes the room start spinning!

 

[Eloise1980]

I drank it in the 3rd trimester of my last pregnancy and with this one from around 16 weeks. Few cups a day.

 

[newlywaaz]

I drank a bunch of it the week before I had DS, because my mom brought some with her from her garden when she came to stay. I mixed it with celestial seasonings RR tea and honey, and it tasted pretty good. I'm going to have her send me some before my 3rd trimester this time around, and try to remember to have at least a glass a day. I also brought some with me to L&D last time, and will again (if i make it to the hospital!).