I have used red raspberry leaf for years. It is an amazing multi-purpose and highly-nutritious herb with a delicious taste similar to regular black tea (but without the caffeine).
When pregnant, I start using red raspberry leaf tea as part of my pregnancy blend in late second and third trimester. Though red raspberry leaf tea is often recommended and touted for its ability to increase uterine contractions and shorten labor, its primary benefit might be in its nutritional value.
Why Red Raspberry Leaf Tea During Pregnancy?
Red raspberry leaf tea is most often recommended during pregnancy, and statistically up to 63% of midwives recommend red raspberry leaf to their clients.
The research is somewhat divided about how much red raspberry leaf consumption during pregnancy can benefit a woman in labor, but recent clinical studies have concluded that:
The findings suggest that the raspberry leaf herb can be consumed by women during their pregnancy for the purpose for which it is taken, that is, to shorten labour with no identified side effects for the women or their babies. The findings also suggest ingestion of the drug might decrease the likelihood of pre and post-term gestation. An unexpected finding in this study seems to indicate that women who ingest raspberry leaf might be less likely to receive an artificial rupture of their membranes, or require a caesarean section, forceps or vacuum birth than the women in the control group. (source)
While red raspberry was not found to shorten the first stage of labor, it did shorten the second stage of labor (pushing) by almost ten minutes and reduced the risk of forceps delivery with no adverse effects for mom or baby. (source)
Another study in rats showed that RRL could both strengthen or lessen contraction intensity, but that it did not affect the body’s ability to go into labor or duration. (source)
The important takeaways are that red raspberry leaf did not have any adverse affects for mom or baby in any of the published studies available and it showed a potential positive affect. Though many scientists would not consider a ten minute reduction in second stage labor statistically significant, I know most pregnant women would consider pushing for almost ten minutes less VERY significant (including myself).
Additionally, while it may not have a strong history of medical or clinical use, red raspberry leaf does have a long history of use by many midwives and pregnant women. Many claim that RRL helped improve their labors and recovery, compared to previous labors when they had not used it. This was my personal experience as well, and I always turn to RRL during pregnancy for this reason.
Skeptics might counter that this could be largely the placebo affect, but in the absence of any adverse effects and considering that placebo works a significant percentage of the time, I’d still consider it worth a try.
We will hopefully see continued research about the ways that RRL may or may not act on the uterus or affect the strength of contractions, but the available research indicates that it is at least safe to consume and doesn’t have any adverse effects.
In my opinion, the real benefit of red raspberry leaf is its nutrition content. Demand of nutrients important during pregnancy such as iron, B-vitamins, vitamin C, and magnesium, are especially high in pregnant women in second and third trimesters. All of these nutrients are present in red raspberry leaf. It is also high in anti-inflammatory tannins and can have a soothing affect on the digestive system.
Red Raspberry Leaf Pregnancy Tea Recipe
Servings
Ingredients
- 4 cups dried organic red raspberry leaf
- 1 cup dried alfalfa leaf
- 1 cup nettle leaf
- ½ cup dried dandelion leaf
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together and store in an air-tight container.
- To brew a cup: Pour 8 ounces of boiling water over 1 tablespoon of the tea mixture and let steep for at least 5 minutes before drinking.
- To brew a gallon: Add ¾ cup tea mixture to a pot with 1 gallon of boiling water. Stir and let steep as it cools. Strain out the herbs and store in a pitcher or glass jar in the refrigerator to consume cold as desired.
Nutrition
Notes
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Why Add Other Herbs?
Red Raspberry Leaf is very nutritious on its own and can absolutely be consumed alone, but I prefer to add the three additional herbs for their nutritional benefits:
Alfalfa:
Alfalfa is known as the “Father of all Foods” and is rich in many nutrients including magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium, silicon, and trace elements, as well as vitamin E, vitamin C, and vitamin K, which is necessary for blood clotting. Read about the benefits of alfalfa here.
Nettle:
Said to be anti-inflammatory, immune boosting, and good for digestion, nettle is another power-packed herb.
Dandelion Leaf:
Dandelion is also high in many vitamins and minerals and is also said to be good for the blood. It may have a normalizing effect on blood pressure and help with digestion and urinary heath (all beneficial during pregnancy).
Ever taken red raspberry leaf tea? How did you use it?
Hi Katie 🙂 just wondering if you know if the ingredients in this tea are ok to drink whilst nursing my 18 month old? Thank you!
Hello Katie,
Thank you so much for this tea mixture recipe. How many cups a day of this tea would you drink? I’m in my third trimester, 30 weeks right now.
While most focus on the pregnancy aspects of Re Raspberry leaf tea, I was suffering debilitating (perimenopause) menstruation cramps and heavy bleeding ( super tampon and full pad leak thru in 30-40 minutes!). There were days I could not get up and function properly from pain and heavy flow. I was resorting to muscle relaxers just to function for 2 days a month. Within 1/2 glass of tea, my cramps were tolerable. While my bleeding was still heavy, I have yet to have to use a super tampon, and day 3 is back to what I would consider normal!!!
Can I add fresh lemon juice to the iced tea, or will it change the properties of the tea?
How did I miss the memo that you are pregnant??? Congratulations!! Number 7 for me is due in July and though I’ve been doing RRL and nettle off and on, I’m getting serious about in in my last trimester. It’s helped me so much in my other pregnancies.
Wellness mama, is drinking red raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy cause stillbirth. Because I have experienced one without any obvious reasons in 39th week. And some studies say it can cause stillbirth even though it’s not statistically significant.
Please let me know.
If you have a history I would either completely avoid or check with your provider. I’m so sorry for your loss <3
HOW TO MAKE RASPBERRY LEAF TEA USING FRESH LEAVES FROM MY PLANTS
I love this tea! I wasn’t expecting the taste to still be good after adding dandelion, but it was still very tasty.
Any chance you can convert cups to mass (weight)?
I feel like a cup of RRL can be packed or fluffed. I want to make a huge batch.
Thanks a bunch!
I gave birth to my first child 3 months ago, and I drank pure rrl tea for the last two months of pregnancy, one cup each day. I had a very easy and quick labor, effective but not so painful contractions. Pushing only lasted for 13 minutes, he was out in 3 contractions. My midwife said my uterus was very strong, since my body pushed on its own, I didn’t really need to push 🙂 quick births run in the family, but I like to think the tea did help. If not, it is still delicious to drink, a good coffeinfree drink for pregnancy!
I made a mistake and have Nettle Root instead of Nettle Leaf – will root be beneficial to add instead of leaf? 🙁
Hi Katie! I am having a hard time drinking Red Raspberry Leaf tea during this hot summer, are capsules a good alternative? Thanks for your expertise!
I like to ice mine during the summer 🙂
I would love to take this while pregnant, I use it in the winter for immune support. My last baby was born at 35w 5d. I’m currently 36 weeks pregnant and spent 12 days in hospital for preterm labor. Would this tea be off limits for someone with a history of preterm labor? I stayed away from it because I was scared to try it for fear of stirring things up. What would be beneficial for someone with preterm labor? I have been dilated to 5 for 5 weeks now 😮 I’ve been pushing hydration and using magnesium oil and rest.
I wonder, if it can increase labor contractions, could it make period cramps worse? I drink raspberry leaf tea in the hope of regulating my periods/hormones after being on birth control and antibiotics from my dermatologist for years, but my last period was HORRID, the cramps were so bad, they felt like contractions. I felt like I HAD to push, even though it was just a period. It was the weirdest (and extremely painful) sensation.
Have you continued to use RRL tea while breastfeeding?
I just gave birth to a 9 lb 6 oz baby boy on May 6th. I drank organic RRL tea in my thrid trimester one cup every day or other day. I pushed for exactly 20 minutes and had to push very hard because he was so big. I am glad that I did not have to push another 10 minutes. Whether it was the tea or not, I do not know, but it was worth drinking it if it saved me from pushing longer or having to have assistance or a C section. My son was 5 days overdue and the actual labor was just under 20 hours from start to finish. My recovery has not been too bad. The main issue has been sore abdominal and back muscles from pushing so hard, so very thankful the pushing wasn’t longer. Best wishes to you all! Drink the tea!!
Is it safe to start drinking it in 22 week?
Hi Katie!
I was wondering.. why don’t you consume Red Raspberry Leaf tea in the first trimester?
Just curious!
Thanks!
I love your blog!
Bethany
Because of its ability to strengthen the uterus in preparation for labor, I avoid it during the first trimester before the baby is big enough to not be harmed.
Thank you for this recipe, I just got all the herbs and made up a big batch. Just curious how many TBS you were steeping/drinking each day in your last trimester? Thanks!
Could I make the tea minus the RRL and drink it throughout? Add in the RRL later on in pregnancy?
Hi Mama! Thanks for this awesome recipe. I just got my shipment of teas, blended per your recipe, and now I am brewing a cup. Thank you!!