Red Raspberry Leaf in Pregnancy

Many moms have used Red Raspberry with good success. Did you know that most of our allopathic medicines have come from herbs?  A safe, commonly used herbal tonic for pregnancy is red raspberry leaf tea.  I have personally used it with many of my pregnancies with good results.  The births of my 8^th and 9^th babies,  during which I drank  lots of red raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy, were better than my  5^th and 6^th pregnancies, where I did not!

It can be brewed as a tea or as an infusion.  Red raspberry leaf is one of the safest and commonly used tonic herbs for women wanting to get pregnant or for women who are already pregnant. Red Raspberry Leaf (Rubus idaeus) tones the uterus, improves contractions and decreases constipation.

When to use There are two basic stances on the subject. There is agreement among many clinicians that in the 3rd trimester frequent (2- 3 cups per day of tea or 1 - 2 cups per day of infusion) is beneficial to the uterine and pelvic muscles. Red Raspberry Leaf contains many minerals and vitamins, including vitamin C and calcium. It also contains an alkaloid called fragrine, which lends tone to the uterus.

We recommend not using in the first trimester, if there is any history of miscarriage.  During the 2^nd and 3^rd trimester, making a strong tea, or an infusion, and drinking several cups a day, ensures a strong uterus, and is good for you nutritionally.

What does Red Raspberry Leaf Do? Red Raspberry leaf does not start labor up or promote contractions. What it does is help strengthen the pelvic and uterine muscles, so that once labor does start the muscles will be more efficient.

To make a tea: pour 1 cup boiling water over 2 teaspoons of herbs. Steep for ten minutes.  Strain.  During the final 2 trimesters, drink 2-3 cups per day.

You can pick your own red raspberry leaves or can get them dried in bulk from a health food store or organic grocery. I like to mix it with other herbs for a sweeter, more rounded taste.