What does Raspberry leaf tea taste like?

[ButteryJam]

Hi,

What does Raspberry leaf tea taste like? I'm not into herbal teas etc and wondering whether I'd be able to drink it? (could always add lots of sugar )

Would you recommend any particular one? How many cups would I need to have per day?

37 weeks and midwife recommended I drink it, if I want to of course :)

[marzipananimal]

I found stirring in a teaspoon of honey made it palatable. You can buy capsules though if you don't want to drink the tea

[Fakebook]

I drank 2 cups a day with dd and DS from 36 weeks. I bought the tea bags from Holland & Barratt with dd and Tesco with DS. I think they were Twinings or Lipton. Can't remember.

It tastes strange without sugar to me. Like a perfume smell without the taste.

I've had two very short second stages with both my labours. Don't know if its because of the tea or not, but both babies were born within 15 mins of pushing. Good luck!

[NotSpartacus]

I can't describe it, other than to say it isn't generally bad (though I recall one brand , not sure which, was hideous). I must have drunk a lot because over 3 years later I can still taste it on the back of my tongue!

[amazingface]

It's like anything, you can get used to it if you do it often enough! It's quite a strong taste. I didn't bother sweetening mine but you absolutely could.

I drank loaaaaads of it, and labour was relatively fast and efficient (considering it was a first).

Oh, and do your perineal massage while you're at it

[ButteryJam]

Thanks ladies!

Fakebook or anyone else who can help, was it this one you used?

amazingface, by loads, how many do you mean? How many per day? I have started on the perineal massage rather reluctantly ;)

[amazingface]

Maybe up to 3 cups a day? I used to make pots of it and finish the pot.

Yes, the PM isn't the greatest of fun, is it? I couldn't even reach there by 40 weeks! But my midwife reckoned it had been a factor in my not tearing.

[Fakebook]

Yep, that's the one.

Eek @ perineal massage!

[ButteryJam]

amazingface, which brand of tea did you use?

Also, with PM, did you do it daily and for how long? Also, did you do it inside the vagina or just on the outside between vagina and anus?

[ButteryJam]

Fakebook thanks! :)

[dinkystinky]

If you don't like herbal tea you can take capsules instead. I think its fine - friends prefer to sweeten with honey.

[amazingface]

I still don't really know if I did it right at all, ButteryJam. I think I did both but I can't be too sure have blocked out the memory

I did it daily, for about 5 mins, from about 36/7 weeks but only until about 38.5 or 39 weeks. I really just could not reach after that, and I went into labour at 39 +5.

Just checked the brand of tea I have left, and it's called 'Health and Healthier', which came in teabags. I can't find a link to it. But I think I mostly used a loose-leaf tea, can't remember what that one was called. Any health store should have it, just ask. And yes, I think capsules do the exact same job.

[amazingface]

Duh! I should have check Fakebook's link. Same one :)

[ButteryJam]

amazingface, fabulous, thanks! :)