https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 03:22:00 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-792683 Sat, 18 May 2013 08:50:57 +0000 allison 792683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Espion: yep, first. Hopefully next time will go much more quickly! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-792300 Fri, 17 May 2013 20:09:49 +0000 Espion 792300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: I'm not only because I can't imagine where I would get it (because it would probably have to be somewhere local). I do know that it has estrogenic effects and some women recommend using it as a vaginal suppository. (yeep.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-792293 Fri, 17 May 2013 20:07:58 +0000 Espion 792293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@allison: Holy cow! You are a rock star. Definitely goes to show, every body is different. I assume it was your first pregnancy/labor? FTMs are in it for a longer haul, statistically speaking, but that is looooooong! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-791970 Fri, 17 May 2013 16:18:38 +0000 maybebaby 791970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@knittylady: Yay :D </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-791919 Fri, 17 May 2013 15:47:19 +0000 allison 791919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Espion: I'll just add that I drank a prenatal tea that included RRL throughout my pregnancy, and RRL throughout 3rd tri. My labor was 36 hours. So it's definitely not guaranteed to give you a fast labor! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-791802 Fri, 17 May 2013 14:55:02 +0000 Revel 791802@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: I'm not using evening primrose oil but you reminded me I want to see what our childbirth educator said about it - I remember she may have said something about starting it somewhere from 36-38 weeks. I'll update later if I can find the info. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-791738 Fri, 17 May 2013 14:28:02 +0000 Boheme 791738@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you all using evening primrose oil too? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-791608 Fri, 17 May 2013 13:52:11 +0000 knittylady 791608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Drinking it iced w lemon right now and it's a world of difference! Going down way easier, I can only imagine how easy it will be with a splash of juice or frozen berries!! Thanks all! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-790769 Fri, 17 May 2013 10:15:52 +0000 Revel 790769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, I like the Frontier loose leaf variety much more than the traditional medicinals flavor wise. It tastes, fresher maybe? I think it's a better deal too, I got a 1 lb bag I think for like $12 or $15. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-789638 Thu, 16 May 2013 22:12:55 +0000 Espion 789638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Revel: I got mine from Amazon/Frontier as well. </p> <p>@maybebaby: @Revel: I definitely get Braxton-Hicks after drinking the tea as well! I'm not sure what it does, or if it helps, but it definitely does something!<br /> That's a great idea with the camelback. I have so many water bottles in my car, I'm a rolling landfill. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-789544 Thu, 16 May 2013 21:43:41 +0000 Revel 789544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Espion: I'm drinking about 4 cups a day at almost 38 weeks, but like you, I'm not hyper vigilant about it.</p> <p>I've had a lot of BH but I've been drinking the tea since like 28 weeks so I don't know if I can attribute it to the tea.</p> <p>I have the traditional medicinals variety and then some in bulk I ordered off of Amazon from frontier herbs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-789433 Thu, 16 May 2013 21:22:09 +0000 maybebaby 789433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Espion: I drink like 4 cups a day, which goes pretty quickly since it is iced and in my Camelback--seriously the Camelback makes me drink more than I ever have in my life, I love it!</p> <p>@MamaMagpie: I get the only one I have seen in the store--also sold on amazon: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Traditional-Medicinals-Organic-Raspberry-16-Count/dp/B0009F3PP8/ref=sr_1_3?s=grocery&#038;ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1368757276&#038;sr=1-3&#038;keywords=raspberry+leaf+tea" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Traditional-Medicinals-Organic-Raspberry-16-Count/dp/B0009F3PP8/ref=sr_1_3?s=grocery&#038;ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1368757276&#038;sr=1-3&#038;keywords=raspberry+leaf+tea</a></p> <p>@knittylady: honestly, it was pretty soon after (like days), but again it could totally have been coincidence. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-789212 Thu, 16 May 2013 20:46:57 +0000 Espion 789212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@knittylady: That's awesome! Tell him its all worth it. If I was ever down about anything, I always reminded myself: they can hurt me, but they can't stop time. lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-789163 Thu, 16 May 2013 20:37:25 +0000 knittylady 789163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's extremely helpful! And I'm with you and your perspective on eastern and western medicine. DH is starting his clinical rotations in June! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-789123 Thu, 16 May 2013 20:32:10 +0000 Espion 789123@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@knittylady: There is a ton of information out there and it is hard to know what to believe. </p> <p>(My full disclosure: I'm a Western medicine kind of gal, because that is how I trained. But I have an enormous amount of respect for herbal and alternative medicine. However, I tend to shy away from information that seems to imply that all doctors have horns. Not the last time I checked.) </p> <p>Anyway, from what I read, most state that RRL tea does not induce labor (you need oxytocin for that), but augments it. (Apparently makes contractions more effective.) It is also utilized to decrease post-partum bleeding. Some people say that it has a cumulative effect (hence working yourself up to multiple cups a day or stronger infusions) while others don't mention this at all. (While I was researching this, one person said their midwife was horrified that she didn't *wait* until she was 37 weeks to start!) </p> <p>Some say start drinking at 16 weeks, others start in the 3rd tri.<br /> Some say don't brew for more than 15 minutes (to avoid too many tannins which can, apparently, impair nutrient absorption), others say you "must" brew it for four hours (in order to reap the benefits of tannins)! </p> <p>There is a lot of anecdotal evidence out there, but no real proof regarding a regimen. (I tend to ignore the birth stories that say it made their second labor go faster. Well...yeah.) I do tend to believe the more experienced midwives who recommend/use it regularly though, which is why I'm drinking it. In their view, it helps decrease interventions and bleeding postpartum. Others say it shortens labor overall, since contractions are more effective. Obviously does nothing for pain. (Some say it made labor more painful, because of the increased intensity!)</p> <p>I'll be honest, I don't want my labor to be that fast. I'd rather things proceed how they are supposed to, especially because I fear blowing out the lady bits! So my routine is brewing a couple cups a day...if I get to them, fine, if not, I'm not kicking myself. The best thing to do is assess how you feel after drinking the tea. I do get some noticeable Braxton-Hicks after drinking the tea. For that reason, I am also drinking water like crazy to stay hydrated. </p> <p>The other thing to consider is whether I'll make an extra-strong infusion to drink in early labor, which is recommended by most herbalists who deal with maternal issues. </p> <p>Whew, sorry. Brevity is not one of my traits! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-788076 Thu, 16 May 2013 18:15:21 +0000 knittylady 788076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Espion: Oh and I've read here and other places that people try to get up to two cups a day or more by 37 weeks? I'm behind the 8 ball... :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-788073 Thu, 16 May 2013 18:14:38 +0000 knittylady 788073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Espion: Oo that's a nice idea! I've had horrible heartburn lately and was avoiding lemonade, but just read another thread on hear that said lemon can help heartburn..... So I'll try it tomorrow I think! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-788066 Thu, 16 May 2013 18:12:58 +0000 Espion 788066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maybebaby: @revel: How much do you guys usually drink? I've been somewhat inconsistent with it, even though I've had some for a really long time. </p> <p>@knittylady: Maybe you could try it Arnold Palmer style (1/2 and 1/2 with lemonade)? I'm strange in that I like hot tea, but despise iced tea. An Arnold Palmer is the only way I can stomach getting stuck with iced tea. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-788051 Thu, 16 May 2013 18:11:05 +0000 MamaMagpie 788051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just started thinking I should get some of this tea -- what brand(s) do you ladies like, or does it matter? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-788046 Thu, 16 May 2013 18:09:42 +0000 knittylady 788046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@grizz: It's nice to think I'm doing something pro-active for labor by just sitting here drinking something, when everything else about it is so out of my control. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-788038 Thu, 16 May 2013 18:08:32 +0000 Boheme 788038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following! I need to go pick some up </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-788008 Thu, 16 May 2013 17:59:52 +0000 knittylady 788008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Uck, just made a hot cup with lots of lemon. Bearable, but my tea hating ways are ever present. I'm excited to try it with juice, seltzer and maybe frozen raspberries tomorrow after we go grocery shopping!</p> <p>@maybebaby: How long till you noticed a difference in BH? </p> <p>And thank you both for the tips! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-787226 Thu, 16 May 2013 15:06:54 +0000 maybebaby 787226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I make it a big pitcher (like a lemonade pitcher) at a time. I pour boiling water in the pitcher over 4-5 bags and lets sit for at least 15 minutes, but since I drink mine iced, usually longer. When I am ready to drink, I put a lot of ice in my camelback and top it off with tea. I find the flavor to be so mild that I don't add any honey or agave, but if I am feeling fancy sometimes I add a little juice and seltzer to make it a "mocktail."</p> <p>It make be total coincidence, but my BH contractions are much more noticeable since I've started drinking it. Plus, tea is a good hydrator anyway (since it is caffeine free), so either way it is good for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-787201 Thu, 16 May 2013 15:01:17 +0000 Revel 787201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been drinking it for a while. I think the directions on the one I have says a teaspoon per 6-8 oz of water and then I let it steep for at least 15 minutes. I am making it stronger than that, so probably closer to 2 teaspoons per cup, but I love tea and like how it tastes stronger. For iced you could just brew it that way and refrigerate, or brew it stronger and then pour over ice if you wanted to drink it immediately.</p> <p>I drink it plain unsweetened but I've heard honey is good or adding a little cranberry juice will mask the flavor if you don't like it. </p> <p>I would just start experimenting, it's an inexact science in my experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/raspberry-leaf-tea-tips-for-a-tea-newbie#post-787178 Thu, 16 May 2013 14:55:21 +0000 knittylady 787178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do not like tea. At all. Any kind. But I'm going to try red raspberry leaf tea as I'm 37 weeks today and my midwife mentioned it. </p> <p>So! Not only do I need tips (I looked at past threads that say honey, other juice etc.,) but how strong to make it. I think iced tea would make it easier... how do you brew iced tea? How many bags per cup of water? Sorry if this is moronic, I honestly have now idea about this stuff! </p>