If you have a baby on board, why not make red raspberry leaf tea your best friend? This delightful beverage has many benefits for expectant mothers and tastes delicious. What are the benefits of red raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy? How can you enjoy it besides filling your morning or evening teacup? Read on to discover more about this miracle brew and 10 ways to include it in your daily routine.
Why Red Raspberry Leaf Tea During Pregnancy?
Red raspberry leaf tea benefits a woman throughout pregnancy. While many women use it during the second and third trimesters, it might also have benefits in the first. Some anecdotal reports state that it helps quash nausea and vomiting associated with the initial stages of pregnancy.1 The brew tastes heavenly and pairs well with sweets like cherry chocolate cake or tart lemon scones. When you drink it without a meal, it warms your body without adding calories to your day.7
Why drink it as your baby develops? Research indicates that red raspberry leaf tea strengthens your uterine tone and may ease labor pains.1 When it’s time for delivery, you’ll be like Arnold Schwarzenegger with all your bulging baby-producing biceps ready to hand over that child. Okay, that last sentence contained a touch of hyperbole — but drinking the tea could make labor less strenuous and painful.1
If you keep up your red raspberry leaf tea regimen throughout pregnancy, you may also spend less time in the delivery room. One study of 108 women found that those who drank the brew during the final trimester of pregnancy spent less time in the initial labor stages than those who did not.3 A repeat experiment showed that it shortened the second stage by approximately 10 minutes.1 That might not seem like a long time until you try pushing. And when pain levels rise, minutes matter.
Finally, red raspberry leaf tea is chock-full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients. These substances help your organs function more efficiently and boost your immune response.2 Pregnancy or not, COVID-19 still lingers, and any germ-busting boost a mom can get helps improve her chances of a healthy delivery.
Are There Any Warnings About Using Red Raspberry Leaf Tea During Pregnancy?
Herbal supplements are unregulated in the U.S. While a box of tea looks innocuous on store shelves, anything that can affect your physiology can have potential adverse effects. It may also interfere with other prescription medications you take — so please check with your OB-GYN or midwife before use.
Too much of anything can lead to harm, and drinking red raspberry leaf tea in moderation is wise. One cup a day should produce the desired benefits without putting you in danger.1 However, use it with caution or avoid it during your first trimester, as drinking red raspberry leaf tea may increase your chance of miscarriage.1
This brew has a diuretic effect, making you shed excess water.10 While this property will delight your puffy ankles, consider moderating your consumption if you already race to the bathroom multiple times daily. Likewise, it can have a mild laxative effect — please don’t overindulge before that strategy meeting!11
10 Ways to Enjoy Red Raspberry Leaf Tea During Pregnancy
How can you enjoy red raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy? Here are 10 ways to boost your intake effortlessly:
1. Enjoy a Cup of Tea Alone
Who doesn’t love a hot cup of tea at the end of the day? Why not make this brew part of your evening wind-down routine? Find a quality organic blend — you won’t risk contaminating your baby with questionable pesticides or genetically modified organisms (GMOs).4 If you like more sweetness, add a splash of coconut milk or honey. The healthy fats contained within coconut milk could keep you fuller and prevent you from waking up craving a midnight snack.8
2. Pair It With Cake
Red raspberry leaf tea has a natural sweetness, making it the ideal pairing with desserts. If you went into your pregnancy with a few extra pounds, and your OB-GYN advised you to watch your weight, you can still enjoy treats by making wise substitutions. For example, applesauce can replace oil in many homemade baked goods.5 Up your nutrient intake instead of consuming empty calories by opting for whole-grain flour over the refined white stuff.
3. Try It With Ice Cream
I scream, you scream — who doesn’t love ice cream? The contrast between hot tea and cold deliciousness will surely please your palate. It can also alert you if your teeth are becoming sensitive — pregnant women should see their dentist regularly.
4. Add a Touch of Mint
If you have nausea, mint might help tame that tumultuous tummy.9 You can add a few sprigs to your finished cup or toss some dried herbs in with your blend. A teapot with an infuser for loose-leaf tea allows you to create customized healing brews.
5. Ice It Up and Make It Sparkle
You don’t have to serve hot tea all the time. If you have a warm and sunny day, you can make tea and ice it. Otherwise, you can chill the brew in your refrigerator. Do you have a SodaStream for carbonating water? You may also use it for iced tea, as the bubbles might help tame nausea.
6. Bake It in a Cake
Did you know you can infuse baked goods with tea? If you buy a loose-leaf blend, you can add some leaves directly to your cake mixture. You can also use it to color the frosting on your cake.
7. Make a Healthy Float
Who said you had to keep the ice cream separate from the tea? Why not make red raspberry “soda” using the iced tea process above? Then, add a dollop of your favorite french vanilla. It’s dessert in a glass!
8. Add Ice Cubes to Other Beverages
You can make ice cubes out of nearly any liquid — why not red raspberry leaf tea? The brew adds a unique hint of flavor to your cup of cola or makes a plain glass of water extraordinary. Once you try it, you might start experimenting with other ways to add a twist to your everyday beverages.
9. Soak Your Swollen Feet
Many herbalists believe you can absorb some of the beneficial properties of tea through your skin. Why not try it the next time your ankles swell up during pregnancy? Fill a small basin with the warm brew and let them soak.
10. Or Soak Your Entire Body
If you have yet to try taking a therapeutic tea bath, you are missing out on one of life’s least expensive luxuries.6 Make like a celebrity and fill your tub with a bit of the brew and maybe some flower petals.
Red raspberry leaf tea has multiple benefits for expectant mothers. If you have a baby on the way, why not experiment with one of these 10 methods for adding this miracle brew to your life?
