I am 35 weeks and 3 days pregnant today and during my lunch break at work I felt the sudden urge to go to the health food store and buy some Raspberry Leaf Tea. Maybe it's because I recently read about the health benefits of the stuff or maybe it's because I just wanted to see what it tasted like - who knows! But I bought some and put it on my desk at work and stared at it on and off for an hour or so.
My husband said I shouldn't drink any. I suspect he thinks I'm going to have the baby early. But all 3 of my mother's children were late and the baby seems quite content in my uterus, so I don't have the same fears.
The articles I have read on Raspberry Leaf Tea and the stories I have heard from people about it are mostly all positive. The key apparently is starting it early, quite a few weeks before your due date, to allow it to accumulate in your system. And the vitamins and all the other good stuff in the tea are supposed to help tone the muscles of your uterus, assisting with labour (particularly the second stage of labour) and making postpartum recovery quicker.
Do I believe all of this? To be honest, I'm not fully convinced - but I can't see why I shouldn't try it. So I made my first cup a few minutes ago with a big heap of sugar and am currently sitting at work sipping on it (and blogging...can you tell I'm having a quiet day at work?). Anyway, I'm surprised to say it is rather tasty! The brand I bought has some apple pieces in it for flavouring so I think that is disguising the taste of the Raspberry Leaf itself.
Now I just have to continue to drink it regularly over the next few weeks and wait and see.
Yay for Raspberry Leaf Tea!! Like you, I thought what have I got to lose. Surely you can't be at work too much longer now?? x
ReplyDeleteMy last day at work is next Friday! I'm so excited, but having mixed feelings at the same time, it's weird. x
DeleteHey Cheryl, just found your blog as you recently started to follow my blog, and wanted to introduce myself. :)
ReplyDeleteAnother American expat about to have their first baby abroad, what a neat club we're in! Are you married to a Brit, is that what brought you over? And are you two there long term, or do you plan to move home at some point?
Anyway, I look forward to your future posts, and catching up with you as a fellow blogger, expat and summer mama class of 2012!
Take care! -Kirstin
Hi Kirstin, Thanks for your message! Yes I'm married to a Brit and he dragged me over to the UK (willingly of course) after we were married 7 years ago. The plan at the moment is to stay here indefinitely, but who knows what the future will bring. Are you married to a Norwegian?
DeleteI look forward to following your journey on your blog =)
Cheryl x
I drank raspberry leaf tea and I'd say that it did help. It made me have a lot of braxton hicks contractions in the weeks leading up to giving birth, which helped prepare me for the actual birth x
ReplyDeleteI loved raspberry leaf tea! My first was 10 days over, so it certainly didn't bring on labour, but I have had two fairly short labours so it didn't do any harm.
ReplyDelete