I first read about raspberry leaf tea and its benefits in the last trimester of my pregnancy with Arun. Then I bought it and used it for the first time. Arun was born two weeks earlier than the due date, and the birth was faster than both Christian and I was able to realize.
Even though it is said to be a magical elixir that helps make natural childbirth easier, I can’t say that my easy birth experience happened due to the red raspberry leaf tea. But I do believe that, to a certain degree, it contributed to how my body reacted before, during, and after the labor, along with birth affirmations, research and other things I had done.
If you are not pregnant or don’t plan to have kids, don’t worry, this tea has plenty of benefits that you can benefit from too. I will list them below, so bear with me.
For my second pregnancy, I made sure to drink this tea regularly and also add a few ingredients to make it more enjoyable. It doesn’t taste bad, but it doesn’t have the most delicious taste either.
At the end of this blog post, you will find five recipes you can try.
Researchers – what are they saying?
Many studies have proven that red raspberry leaf tea can make labor faster and reduce complications.
- This study on a group of mamas indicates that raspberry leaf tea can help shorten labor and result in fewer medical interventions.
- Red raspberry leaf in capsule form helped shorten the second stage of labor and reduced the need for forceps delivery to some extent, as shown in this study.
- D. Jill Mallory MD, in Integrative Medicine (Fourth Edition), says, “Although this botanical is often mistakenly recommended to induce labor, its actual role is to increase blood flow to the uterus and aid the uterine muscle fibers in more organized contractions.”
Benefits
Best known as “the woman’s herb,” red raspberry leaf tea has all sorts of benefits, especially in vulnerable and possibly challenging moments such as periods or pregnancy.
For thousands of years, red raspberry leaves were used for menstrual support and during pregnancy to help prepare the womb for childbirth in Europe. The ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese, and Ayurvedic physicians also used it widely as a treatment for wounds and diarrhea.
Red raspberry leaf is known to:
- ease menstrual discomfort
- improve reproductive health
- help improve the immune system
- balance hormones to increase fertility
- strengthen the uterus and the pelvic area
- prepare the body for labor and childbirth
- improve the strength of the amniotic sac
- improve the effectiveness of contractions
- improve chances of implantation
- help balance postpartum hormones
- reduce pain during labor and after birth
- help produce breast milk due to the high mineral count
- prevent miscarriage by strengthening and toning the uterine wall
Red raspberry leaf contains vitamins and minerals such as vitamins C, E, and A, a variety of B vitamins, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. It also contains essential trace minerals such as zinc, iron, chromium, and manganese.
When is the right time to drink it?
The answer to this question is not an easy one. So it is best to talk to your healthcare provider about when to start drinking red raspberry leaf tea.
Many birth professionals (midwives in general) recommend waiting until the 2nd trimester. This is because raspberry leaf tea is a powerful uterine tonic that stimulates the pelvic floor muscles. This may increase uterine contractions and potentially threaten early labor, although there are no studies to verify this.
The most important thing is to watch how YOUR body responds and make changes accordingly.
How much red raspberry leaf tea should you drink?
Again it depends on how your body reacts. It is best to talk with your doctor or midwife and after receiving their approval, start with the recommended dosage on the package—one cup per day in the second trimester.
Please bear in mind that every mama is different and some of you may have irritable uteruses, which means that it is best for you and your baby to drink red raspberry leaf tea once you reach your due date because of uterine cramping.
The best red raspberry leaf tea
Go to your local health food store and ask for this tea. There is every chance you will find it there. Aim for the organic certified bulk bag of red raspberry leaves.
You can also find the tea online. In the USA, you can look for FRONTIER CO-OP; in Europe, you can buy online from Plukt.
Avoid raspberry-flavored herbal teas because they may have ingredients like hibiscus, rose hips, apples, elderberries, or artificial raspberry flavors. These teas are very likely not to contain raspberry leaves and thus do not offer any of the potential benefits of red raspberry leaves.
Red Raspberry Leaf Tea recipes
1. Warm Coconut RRLT
This creamy drink will fill your body with a feeling of coziness and peace that both you and your baby will enjoy.
- In a pan, mix the following:
- 2 cups of water
- 2 spoons of RRLT
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1 teaspoon of cloves
- 1 teaspoon of cardamom
- half a cup of light coconut milk
- After mixing,
- boil the ingredients for 5 minutes
- get them off the fire and let them sit for another 5 minutes
- pour the tea into a cup
- put 1 teaspoon of honey to taste and stir
- Sip slowly and enjoy!
2. Hot recipe – RRLT, Lemon, Ginger, and Honey
This elixir will not only strengthen your immune system and your baby’s immune system but will also help both of you have a more pleasant third trimester, labor and delivery.
- For this tea, I used a regular tea cup.
- In a tea bag, I mixed
- one and a half spoons of RRLT
- 1 spoon of freshly grated ginger
- After mixing,
- insert the bag into the cup
- put the juice of half a lemon
- put 1-2 spoons of raw honey, preferably manuka, for added immunity
- pour boiled water and cover the cup
- let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Enjoy!
3. Cold recipe – RRLT, Camomile, and Rose Petals
This delicious recipe is a must for summertime. Besides needing extra fluids and minerals in hot weather, this tea will satisfy your thirst and taste buds. I’m so happy that my second pregnancy had the final months in summer because I was able to discover and enjoy this tea.
- For this tea, I used a 1,6 L of a tea-making cup
- How to:
- fill the tea container with equal parts of red raspberry leaves, camomile, and rose petals.
- pour filtered room temperature water
- let it sit for a couple of hours in the refrigerator
It lasts me about two days if Christian is not drinking from it, which happens all the time because he also likes it very much.
4. Hot or cold recipe – RRLT and Mint
Mint is refreshing and makes the RRLT so smooth and enjoyable to drink, both hot and cold. In Denmark, you can have almost all the seasons in one day, so this tea fits perfectly.
- For this recipe, I used a regular tea cup.
- In a tea bag, I mixed
- one and a half spoons of RRLT
- 10 fresh mint leaves
- How to prepare the tea:
- insert the bag into the cup
- pour boiled water and cover the cup
- let it sit for 10 minutes
- drink it hot or let it in the refrigerator for a few hours
- Enjoy!
5. After Pregnancy Tea Blend
During the postpartum period, it is best to continue drinking tea blends that can help with nutrition, recovery, and milk supply. This tea combination is excellent for boosting vitamin K, iron, and magnesium levels.
- In a tea mug, mix the following
- 2 spoons of RRLT
- 1 spoon nettle leaf
- 3 spoons camomile
- 1 teaspoon of fennel
- After mixing,
- pour filtered, boiled water into the tea mug container
- let it sit for 10 minutes
- you can add some honey as a sweetener if you feel like it.
- Enjoy!
I hope these recipes will delight your senses and will make your pregnancy more enjoyable and healthy. If you have other recipes that you discovered, please feel free to share them with us.
Mama, I’m wishing you an easy and flawless birth. May you and your new bubble of light be healthy, joyful and thriving.
Remember to love yourself.
