Red Raspberry Leaf Tea

by Pattie Hughes | More from this Blogger

29 Sep 2006 10:00 AM

Many women swear by drinking red raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy. This herbal tea is supposed to tone and strengthen the pelvic muscles. This will help your contractions be more efficient during labor. People who use red raspberry leaf tea say it results in a shorter labor.

The tea can be used throughout the pregnancy or started later. Most women drink one or two cups each day and then switch to an infusion later in pregnancy. This method has been used by pregnant women for thousands of years in cultures around the world.

Some doctors and midwives that it may be safer to wait until after the first trimester to start drinking red raspberry leaf tea. They believe there may be a slight increased risk of miscarriage in the first trimester. Waiting until the second trimester may be a good idea. Some women wait until the third trimester, and maybe even as late as 36 weeks.

But does it work? I decided to try it with my last pregnancy. I found it at our local health food store. Every evening after the kids went to bed, I brewed a cup of the tea. It tastes really good. I didn't start drinking it until my third trimester, because I didn't want to take any chances that it could harm Logan.

When I went into labor, I brewed a strong batch of the tea. It probably wasn't as strong as an infusion. I don't really know if it worked. The contractions were much stronger than in my previous three pregnancies. I was also in a lot more pain. Whether this had anything to do with the tea, I don't know.

I also dilated faster than I did with the other babies. When I arrived at the hospital, I was only about 3 or 4 centimeters dilated. I was in shock because of the level of pain I was feeling from the contractions. Within just two hours, I was completely dilated.

I ended up having a c section because the baby's head wouldn't engage in the pelvis. This is why I'm not sure if the tea was effective. It had nothing to do with the reason for the c section.

No large studies have been done and herbal teas are not regulated by the federal government. For this reason, you should not drink or use any herbal remedies without talking to your doctor or midwife.

Learn more about Pattie Hughes

Pattie Hughes is a freelance writer and mother of four young children. She and her husband have been married since 1992. Pattie holds a degree in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger

Tristi Pinkston (10839) 29 Sep 2006 09:22 PM

My midwife strongly recommends red raspberry leaf tea, and so does my husband, who practices alternative medicine. I know it's been very helpful to many women, my own sister included. Unfortunately, I couldn't stand the taste. Not that it's a bad taste -- it actually almost tastes like the fruit, but when I'm pregnant, there's no accounting for my taste buds. But yes, it can be a very good tea.