Ok, mammas this is one for the books. (That means you need to save this one!)
I mean you had me at soothing……and it can help during labor. Now I am sold!
During my first pregnancy, I kind of winged it. You know, I ate healthy here and there and made sure not to consume too much caffeine. I tried the best I could to remember those horse pills called prenatals and the rest; well I left that up to nature.
But you know what that got me……a 15hr labor that ended up with forceps, a thin un-nourished placenta and a hemorrhage. That was not fun. I was totally unprepared.
The second go-round was a totally different experience. I was determined. I was tackling this pregnancy head on. I researched, read, and then researched some more.
Wanna know one of the biggest tools?
Yep! Cute, tasty, dainty tea.
But boy, does it pack a punch on your health!
Red Raspberry Leaf –
A study published in the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health in 2001 found that women who drank raspberry leaf tea had shorter labor, and fewer of their babies were delivered by forceps.1
- It is packed full of vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C and magnesium
- It also has fragrine – an alkaloid that tones and strengthens the uterus and makes contractions more effective
- Helps ease morning sickness and upset stomach
- Helps uterus return to normal quicker and easier postpartum
- Learn more about Red Raspberry Leaf
Nettle Leaf –
- Nettle has lots of Vitamin K, which is essential for blood coagulation and decreases likelihood of hemorrhage
- Can increase the richness and availability of breast milk
- Eases leg cramps and muscle spasms
- Learn more about Nettle Leaf
Peppermint Leaf –
- Aids in digestion
- Relaxes mild upset stomach
- Soothing
- Learn more about Peppermint Leaf
Soothing Pregnancy Tea
Ingredients:
- 1 cup dried red raspberry leaves (organic & sustainably sourced raspberry leaves)
- 1/2 cup dried nettle leaves (organic & sustainably sourced nettles)
- 1/2 cup dried peppermint leaves (organic & sustainably sourced peppermint leaves)
Make It:
- Put all ingredients in a quart mason jar or other glass jar (these are super cute jars for keeping your tea blends nice and fresh). Shake to mix well.
- Pour 1 cup hot water over 1 tbs of Pregnancy Tea mix. Let steep for 5 minutes.
- Strain and enjoy. Pairs great with a little raw honey.
With the approval of my midwife I drank this tea at least 2-3x a week in the 1st and 2nd trimester and every single day in the 3rd.
And the success? I labored for 4 hours and pushed my healthy 9.5lb baby boy out on the third push. That was enough evidence for me. This will definitely be in my routine when baby No.3 comes around one day.
~Post written by Emilie of The Toups Address
NOTE: We have received a few reader comments regarding nettles and red raspberry leaf during pregnancy.
Of course, consult with your own naturopath, midwife, herbalist, MD, etc for any questions you have, as we are not in the business of providing medical advice.
According to Rosemary Gladstar, author of Herbal Healing for Women, “Four herbs are particularly recommended by experienced herbalists and have been used safely by pregnant women for centuries. Rich in vitamins and minerals, red raspberry leaf, nettles, alfalfa, and dandelion act as system supporting tonics for overall health of the expectant mother.”
Red raspberry leaf, taken as a tea or in capsule form, strengthens the uterus, alleviates morning sickness, eases labor and delivery as well as postpartum discomforts, and aids in milk productions. Women with a history of miscarriage, however, should not use this herb until the second trimester.
Nettles, a mineral, is high in calcium which nourishes both the mother and fetus and can ease painful leg cramps and the pain of childbirth. Nettle has been known to improve the elasticity of the veins and strengthen the kidneys. 1
Comments 10
Passing this along to my expecting friends!
From what I’ve read, anyone not hoping for imminent delivery should stay away from red raspberry leaf. My OB and the OB nurse I initially asked agreed to avoid this entirely during first trimester. This can be tricky for people that like pre-packaged herbal tea, it’s a pretty common ingredient. The same effects that can lead to red raspberry leaf shortening labor (better, stronger contractions) can increase your chances of a miscarriage.
Make sure you’re only taking this if already in labor AND if you don’t have pregnancy induced hypertension, placenta previa, or other bleeding issues. Raspberry leaf may cause miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy and will exacerbate bleeding issues.
You know nettles can encourage labour right.? It is not recomended unless you have sent baby an eviction note.
Author
As with anything you read anywhere regarding you and your baby’s health, please take any and all questions to your doctor. Please see our note above re: the use of nettles during pregnancy and then see your own health care provider if you’d like to discuss further, as we are not doctors.
I remember drinking a lot of raspberry tea with my last pregnancy. I read in an herbal book that red raspberry tea was good for helping to prevent birth defects. At that time, I was 38 and had a higher risk pregnancy anyway, so I bought prepackaged red raspberry tea. It must have worked; my baby was born healthy and no defects.
I did need to take additional iron supplements, though, because tea will deplete your body of iron.
After my third baby was born I hemorrhaged. After that I religiously drank red raspberry leaf tea during all my pregnancies. I am currently expecting #12 and haven’t had a bleeding issue since. In the majority of women this herb will not cause you to go into labor prematurely. I am also a birth doula and childbirth educator and always recommend the use of herbs, under the advice of your midwife. I highly recommend this tea, particularly this blend. The only thing that would make it better would be the addition of alfalfa, for its iron.
I’ve done a fair bit of research on raspberry leaf tea, and the general consensus seems to be that it’s best avoided in the first trimester, best in moderation in the second, and fine in the third, unless you are at risk for a miscarriage or premature baby.
Annabelle Karmel (an infamously paranoid parent) recommends taking 1tsp of RLT a day in the second trimester and twice a day in the third – not sure I would brew up 1tbsp at a time like this blog calls for, but I think I could definitely see myself using this blend daily (I’m currently 22 weeks).
Author
Thanks for your note, Annie. Yes, we agree. Although we aren’t doctors, from the research and personal experiences many of us have had, as noted above we suggested that women with a history of miscarriage, however, should not use this herb until the second trimester.
Congrats on your pregnancy! 🙂
The blog does call for 1 tbsp of the tea but its not only RLT, its a blend of three different teas so it does end up with only a little more than the recommended one tsp of the RLT. And as the author has written, she used it 2-3 times a week and only used it daily in the third trimester.