Pregnancy and Herbs - Pregnancy and Herbal Tea

What is Red Raspberry Leaf?

After the first trimester, Red Raspberry Leaf is the safest and most helpful herb you can take. It has numerous healing benefits that help during pregnancy, during labor and even after you give birth. Plus recent studies show that it has virtually no side effects.

During pregnancy: Raspbery Leaf contains a substance called fragrine that strengthens and tones your uterus. This helps prevent miscarriage. The leaves also act as a sort of super prenatal vitamin by replenishing your body with the extra vitamins and minerals it needs to maintain it's overall health. The benefits from the abundance of these vitamins and minerals are numerous and well documented: They encourage healthy skin and bone development in your baby. They help handle the increase in blood volume by improving your circulation. And they strengthen your immunity, and in turn, strengthen your baby's immunity. It also contains a substance that helps control morning sickness.

During labor: If you use Red Raspberry Leaf during pregnancy, your uterus will be nice and toned during delivery. A toned uterus can help you through many different aspects of delivery. First of all, it will contract more powerfully and effectively. Effective contractions mean a shorter, less painful delivery. This lowers the possibility of complications like needing forceps, getting a C-section or hemorrhaging after labor. The extra vitamins and minerals Red Raspberry Leaf provides will replace those lost during delivery.

After giving birth: The fragrine will continue to tone your uterus which will lessen your pain and help it return to it's normal size faster. And the vitamins and minerals will aid in the production of breast milk.

What is Ginger?

Ginger is a miracle herb when it comes to curing nausea from morning sickness. The easiest way to reap the Ginger benefits is to drink either ginger tea or ginger ale at the first sign of nausea. The only problem with this is that it's hard to gauge the amount you're ingesting. A more reliable way is to take ginger supplements.

In 2005, a study was performed to review the results of 7 clinical trials on the effects of ginger during pregnancy. The results of that study showed that ginger presented no harmful effects on either the mom or the baby. The study also reported that since ginger contains a substance that, in theory, could cause birth defects, it should be taken at low doses.

What is Peppermint Leaf?

Peppermint Leaf is probably the most controversial herb on this list. Some herbalists say pregnant and lactating women should stay away because ingesting large amounts could trigger a miscarriage. Others say Peppermint Leaf is safe as long as it's taken in small amounts.

Peppermint Leaf contains compounds that stimulate the digestive system. This can help relieve the pain and uncomfortable feeling associated with pregnancy flatulence. The cooling compounds soothe and calm your stomach, lessening your pregnancy associated nausea and vomiting.

Because of it's ability to stimulate menstruation, talk to your midwife before starting a Peppermint Leaf regimen. She can help you figure out if it's safe for you to take and what your correct dosage would be.

What is Lemon Balm?

Lemon Balm is another pregnancy herb that's surrounded by controversy, but not because of proven side effects. Lemon Balm, although rated as likely safe for pregnancy, just hasn't been researched enough. So how did it get rated as safe? Because there's very little anecdotal evidence of Lemon Balm causing complications during pregnancy.

While the side effects haven't been proven, the Lemon Balm benefits have. Drinking a cup of Lemon Balm tea is a quick way to cure those pregnancy blues. While it's lifting your spirits, it will also calm irritability and anxiety. It's kind of like a mood leveler. Lemon Balm also makes a great remedy for indigestion. It's calming abilities soothe the stomach and aid in digestion.

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