Do you think it helped and how much did you drink?
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I'm not to that point yet, but I'll be drinking a ton. The best way is to make a really concentrated brew and add some honey, and then you can get a lot in fast.
Right now I just take one raspberry leaf capsule (450mg) a day and about 15 minutes after I take it I always get braxton hicks.
I'm certain it really does tone the uterus and help make contractions more effective. -
What does raspberry tea do? This is one I haven't heard of.
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Yup! All day long! I'm not sure it helped but its good for me either way, and I love tea.
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@mediagirl: Raspberry LEAF tea, raspberry tea doesn't do anything.
It helps tone the uterine muscles and help you have more effective contractions, in strong doses. This article talks a little about some of the benefits - http://blogs.babble.com/being-pregnant/2012/06/05/red-raspberry-leaf-tea-are-you-drinking-it/
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@mediagirl: it helps tone your uterus
there are other benefits but for some reason that's the one yeah stuck lol
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-Reduces pain during labor and after birth: By toning the muscles used during labor and delivery RRL eliminates many of the reasons for a painful delivery and prolonged recovery. It does not, however, counter the pain of pelvic dilation.
-Assists in the production of plentiful breast milk
-Can help make labor faster: RRL works to encourage the uterus to let go and function without tension. It doesn’t strengthen contractions but it does allow the uterus to work more efficiently
-Studies show that women taking RRL have a reduced incidence of artificial rupture of membranes, forceps delivery or cesarean
RRL contains an easily assimilated form of calcium. An increased availability of calcium is necessary in controlling nerve response to pain during childbirth and in aiding bone development in the baby. The presence of fragrine allows the uterus to contract more powerfully and effectively during labor. The high vitamin and mineral content helps to replace those that are lost via blood loss in delivery. The alkaloids that are present will also aid in toning the uterus after birth as it returns back to its usual size.
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Yup I started at 32 weeks... I had at least 2 cups a day... sometimes 4... I made it with a little honey, two cups at a time. I chilled it so it was iced tea (it was spring/summertime) and drank it from a big water bottle.
I had a pretty fast labor, but she was #2 which is usually the case anyway, so hard to say how much the tea helped. But I'll tell you one thing... When my contractions came on, they came on fast and STRONG. I was actually cursing myself for drinking so much tea... Haha, I look back and laugh at that now, but at the time, I hated the tea because of the pain... but who knows.
However, I do think it helped.. My contractions were strong and efficient... Labor with #1 (no tea) was 20 hours and labor with #2 (tea) was 6 hours. I got to the hospital at 9.5cm and pretty much had her as soon as the doctors checked me. Sometimes I wonder if I got there sooner if I would've delivered even sooner. In hindsight, I'm grateful for having had a fast labor and strong contractions... I recommend the tea
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I bought it on a Tuesday, had a mug of it Tue night, two mugs Wednesday, another one Thursday, early labour Thursday night....I was overdue, so who knows if that was "it", but I will definitely have it again next time!
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@Arden: wow, that is amazing about the BHs after taking the pill!
@Mrs. Pen: @Arden: Do they sell it at regular grocery stores or do you need to go to a more specialty health store?
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@NYCaliMama: I definitely want your 2nd labor experience so I am sold on trying it!!
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@Andrea: I got mine from Amazon (cheaper), health food stores carry it too. I doubt you could find it at a regular grocery.
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@Arden: On Amazon, they sell them in boxes of 6. I just wasn't sure if I need that many boxes. Does it help to drink it after you give birth, too?
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I got it at Whole Foods and Amazon. Sometimes Whole Foods had it on sale and sometimes they were out of stock, so I'd go to Amazon. I tried both the Traditional Medicinals and Yogi brands.
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I didn't drink any and had super strong contractions! I had considered it but I don't like tea so I didn't think I'd end up actually drinking it! I did do EPO though.
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@NYCaliMama: Thanks! It's a pain to drive to Whole Foods so I'll just get the bulk pack from Amazon.
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@Andrea: Yes, it helps with milk production and it has lots of vitamins and minerals to replace the ones you lose through birth and breastfeeding.
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@Andrea: haha, yeah a speedy labor is a good thing!
I had a lot leftover after birth because I kept running out and going back to the store to stock up (not knowing when baby would arrive didn't help either!)...
They say it's good before and after birth... Actually, for women's health in general, pregnant or not, it's supposed to be good, but after birth I was busy drinking nursing teas and a ton of plain water because of bf'ing! So I gave away the rasp leaf tea to pregnant friends
However since I drank sometimes 4 cups a day, I did use up the 6 boxes from Amazon. I think each box had 16 tea bags, which lasted me 4-7 days.
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Oh, I've heard about this. Going to remember this for later
@Arden: Since you seem very knowledgeable on the topic, when do you start drinking the tea? I'm still early in the second trimester, so I would imagine not yet?
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@Revel: I would start drinking one cup a day (or taking one capsule) around the start of the third trimester. I started this week, I'm 26 weeks.
Then around 32 you can start slowly increasing until by week 38 you are drinking as much as you can each day (4-6 cups is good).I tell clients to make a super strong brew (like soak the tea bags for hours, and put like twelve tea bags in two cups of water), and put it in the fridge a few days before their due date.
Then when labor begins, guzzle the whole thing right before you leave for the hospital. It really brings the speed of labor up quick! Some people even freeze the tea into ice cubes, and then suck on them all through labor. -
@Arden: Thanks for the tips! I'll make sure to come back to this thread.
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@Arden: I've been wondering when I should start drinking RRL tea (I'm 34+2 today). But I've been having some preterm labor contractions, so I'm a little afraid to encourage my uterus to contract, at this point. I drink a pregnancy tea, and I'm pretty sure there's som RRL in that. Is it safe to go from not drinking straight RRL to drinking a lot at 36 weeks, in your opinion?
I'm definitely going to do the "strong brew" right before going to the hospital, though! Thanks for that tip.
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I did drink it, and it did seem to intensify my BH but who knows if that was coincidental or not. I like tea, so I enjoyed it
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@allison: I think it's safe. I would drink maybe a couple of cups a day once you hit 38 weeks, and then the strong brew once you're in labor. If you go over 40 weeks, you can increase the daily amount to help you go into labor.
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I drink a third-trimester tea every night -- it came in a sampler pack from Earth Mama Angel Baby and has red raspberry leaf in it, I randomly read somewhere that it can lower blood sugar so I started experimenting and drinking a cup before bed and ever since, my fasting blood sugars have been super low (in a good way). I don't know if it's coincidence or not, but I'm not giving it up. So I'm going to keep drinking it and in a few weeks up my intake throughout the day and see if it helps with labor! I love hot tea so I can drink it quite quickly, but maybe will see about icing it also.
@Arden: Good tip!
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@Arden: great tip for drinking lots before heading to the hospital. Ok, will try and see.
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I didn't use it, because I was on so many meds for PIH and hyper emesis (I don't take herbal remedies when I am on Rx meds because the interactions aren't studied). I just wanted to mention though that my SIL is a naturopath and told me it is contraindicated to use it before 35 weeks in case of preterm labour, just in case people are thinking of using it much earlier than that.
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I drank it a lot, but I don't know how much it actually helped.
@Andrea: You may be able to find it at your regular grocery store. That's where I got mine.
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@MsMini: That it hotly debated. Some midwives/doctors recommend waiting, other suggest taking it throughout pregnancy.
There are many reasons to consider taking it earlier, but it's something each person needs to research.
I wouldn't take it in large doses before full term, but after plenty of research I'm comfortable with taking my daily 450mg at this point in my pregnancy.
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Sooo much RRL Tea, for the last 2 months I drank it all day at work, and DH would make pitches of it and keep it in our fridge. Whenever I was thirsty I'd slug back as much as I could.
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Wow! I've never heard of this before! Gonna research and better start drinking it if I want it to/hope it will work!
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Does it taste like raspberries?
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@boiledpnut: No, it's made from the leaves so it doesn't really taste like raspberries.
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@Arden: Hmmm, I might have to try it then. I HATE raspberry flavor though!
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@boiledpnut: It doesn't taste like raspberries at all! I hate them too, but I like the tea.
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