Is raspberry leaf tea safe during pregnancy? Does it have any benefits in pregnancy? Does it lead to any side effects during pregnancy? Well, I know all these questions must be coming up in the mind of an expecting mother. Don’t freak out or stress!!
Raspberry plant is native to Europe and part of Asia. Its leaves have a lot of medicinal value that is used to induce labor during pregnancy.
In this article, you will come to know about the benefits of raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy along with its side effects.
Is Raspberry Leaf Tea Safe During Pregnancy:
Raspberry plant is native to Europe and part of Asia. Its leaves have a lot of medicinal value that is used to induce labor during pregnancy. Yes, it very true that its leaves are loaded with nutritional value.
Raspberry leaf tea is a caffeine-free beverage. It is low in calories and support for healthy weight management. Raspberry leaf tea is best used as a method to help augment your antioxidant profile while you obtain essential nutrients from other foods.
Throughout history, it has been proven that herbal tea has significant effects on reducing the negative symptoms associated with pregnancy and labor.
There was a conducted study (R) which evaluated the use of herbal tea remedies among 600 women where they found that 52% of women regularly used some kind of herbal remedy and 63% of women had tried red raspberry leaf tea.
In most of the cases, red raspberry leaf tea is recommended at the second and third trimesters of pregnancy wherein it helps with the symptoms of nausea and vomiting in the first trimester as well.
Red raspberry leaf tea has also been used to strengthen the uterus, improve labor outcome and prevent excessive bleeding after childbirth.
Benefits Of Raspberry Tea In Pregnancy:
Raspberry leaves are high in nutritional value, it has amazing health benefits for pregnant and non-pregnant women. Some of the benefits of raspberry tea in pregnancy are as follows-
1. Good Source Of Nutrients And Antioxidant:
The benefits that raspberry leaf tea gives during pregnancy is because it is such a good source of nutrients and antioxidants. It is rich in B vitamins, vitamin C and a number of minerals, including potassium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, and iron.
It also contains polyphenols like tannins and flavonoids, which act as antioxidants in the pregnant women body which as a result protect cells from damage. Overall, it is believed that because of the nutrient profile, raspberry leaf tea is beneficial in the early stages of pregnancy.
2. Shorten Labor:
There are studies where it has been shown that around 108 women who drank raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy had a shorter first stage of labor. (R)
This happens because it helps in toning and tightening muscles in the pelvic area which include the wall of the uterus and makes the delivery easier.
It also reduces the chance of having a preterm or an overdue baby. The raspberry leaf tea helps a lot in and around of the last trimester of the delivery.
3. Reduce Interventions and Complications of Childbirth:
One of the major and important raspberry leaf tea pregnancy benefits is that it reduces interventions and complications of childbirth, this is as per the American Pregnancy Association (R).
The study also stated that women who drank red raspberry leaf tea later in pregnancy had reduced use of forceps and other interventions, as well as a reduction in the likelihood of pre and post-term labor. The easier labor with fewer interventions decrease the amount of bleeding in the postpartum state.
4. Prepares The Body For The Labor:
The raspberry leaf helps relax various muscles, that include the uterine muscles too. It eases labor especially in the later stages of pregnancy. It contains an alkaloid called fragarine that is known to tone pelvic and uterine muscles and make the delivery easier and faster.
5. Improves Digestive Function:
The presence of antioxidants in raspberry leaf tea helps to manage the inflammation throughout the body. As per the studies published in the journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, it was mentioned that red raspberry tea inflicted a significantly reduced inflammation in rats affected with antigen-induced arthritis.
6. Other Potential Benefits:
- Reduces morning sickness
- Boosts immune system
- Strengthens the amniotic sac
- Balances postpartum hormones, and promotes breast milk after delivery
- Aids in blood circulation
- Reduces post-delivery bleeding
- Helps shrink the uterus to post-pregnancy size
When to Start Drinking Raspberry Leaf Tea During Pregnancy?
Well, it is advisable before starting to drink raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy to consult a doctor and then start drinking. Mostly, all health care professionals recommend drinking raspberry leaf tea once after the second trimester.
The reason behind this is that as this is a uterine tonic that stimulates the pelvic floor muscles and results in increase uterine contractions and potentially threatens with early labor, it can be fatal at times.
In some case, the mom prefers to wait until the third trimester, or even until 34 weeks to start drinking red raspberry leaf tea. At first, you should stick to drinking 1 cup a day and then after a few weeks build up to 2 cups and then 3.
Make sure one should not start drinking raspberry tea as before the said week since it is believed that taking it much earlier could lead to miscarriage too.
How Often To Drink Raspberry Leaf Tea In Pregnancy?
It is quite difficult to say how much to drink raspberry leaf tea in pregnancy. At first you should stick to drinking 1 cup a day and then after a few weeks build up to 2 cups and then 3.
As per a study, taking 2.4 mg per day of red raspberry leaf in tablet form appears to be safe. Whereas when it comes to the tea, 1–3 cups per day is appropriate during pregnancy. (R).
Side Effects Of Raspberry Leaf Tea In Pregnancy:
Well, the raspberry leaf tea side effects are comparatively less and it suits most of the people. But still, it is best that you familiarise yourself with the possible side effects.
- It can cause loosening of stool due to the laxative properties.
- Make sure one should not start drinking raspberry tea as before the said week since it is believed that taking it much earlier could lead to miscarriage too
- It is not safe for mothers who want to have a Caesarean delivery.
- In case of vaginal birth, it puts a stress on the baby as the raspberry leaf tea makes contractions even stronger and severe.
- Raspberry leaf tea side effects lead to frequent urination and laxative effects that lead to frequent motion.
- Raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy leads to Braxton Hicks contractions and decrease response to insulin in case of few moms.
Raspberry Tea Recipes:
Now lets us focus on the way and how the raspberry tea can be made-
1. Raspberry Iced Tea:
This is one of the relaxing and chilled drinks that will freshen you up in the hot summer if your pregnancy or delivery date is around the same time of the scorching heat of the summer.
Ingredients:
- Water-4 glasses
- Sugar syrup- 1/2 of a glass
- Tea bag- 1
- Raspberries (fresh or frozen)- 2 cups
- Lime Juice-1/2 cup
- Mint leaves (roughly crushed)- 4-5 leaves (optional)
How To Make:
- In a vessel, boil 2 glasses of water and add the tea bag.
- After 2 minutes, remove the tea bag and keep the tea aside.
- In another pan, pour the other 2 glasses of water.
- Put the raspberries in and simmer till the raspberries become pulpy.
- Strain it and keep it aside to cool.
- Once it is cool, mix the raspberry juice, tea, lime juice, and the sugar syrup together.
- Add the crushed mint leaves (optional) and stir it.
- Then refrigerate it and serve it chilled.
2. Raspberry Tea Lollies:
It is low fat, low in calories and just yummy in taste, you will just love it.
Ingredients:
- Raspberry (chopped)- 200 gms
- Raspberry Tea (hot)- 4 glasses
- Sugar syrup- 1/2 cup (you can add more of this if you want it sweeter)
- Lime juice- 1/4th cup
How To Make:
- In a large bowl, mix chopped raspberries, raspberry tea, and sugar syrup together.
- Let all of it infuse in together for about 15– 20 minutes.
- Once cooled completely, add the lime juice.
- Pour in the liquid into lolly molds and freeze it for 5 – 6 hours.
- Serve it cool
Does Raspberry Tea Induce Labor?
Well, there is no much evidence to this question as of now. But given the fact almost all the health care professionals recommend drinking raspberry leaf tea once after the second trimester, it can be deemed safe for labor.
Red raspberry leaf tea has also been used to strengthen the uterus, improve labor outcome and prevent excessive bleeding after childbirth.
Well, it is advisable before starting to drink raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy to consult a doctor. Mostly all the health care professionals recommend drinking raspberry leaf tea once after the second trimester.
Raspberry leaf tea in pregnancy is an important element for inducing labor. I hope this article has provided you a good amount of information about the benefits and side effects of raspberry leaf tea. But make sure to consult your doctor who will guide you better before starting drinking the raspberry leaf tea.
