The Benefits of Red Raspberry Tea

Red Raspberry leaf tea is one of the safest and commonly used tonic herbs for women wanting to get pregnant or for women who are already pregnant. Red Raspberry Leaf (Rubus idaeus) tones the uterus, improves contractions and decreases constipation. Most tonics need to be used regularly, for a tonic is to the cells much like exercise is to the muscles; it is not much help when done irregularly . But you will still  benefit even from occasional use of tonics during pregnancy, since they contain nourishing factors. The herb comes in forms of leaves to make teas or tonics as well as pill like capsules you can swallow. Most of the benefits given to regular use of Red Raspberry leaf tea throughout pregnancy can be traced to the strengthening power of fragrine, an alkaloid which gives tone to the muscles of the pelvic region, including the uterus itself; and to the nourishing power of the vitamins and minerals found in this plant. There is rich concentration of Vitamin C, the presence of Vitamin E and the easily assimilated calcium and iron. Raspberry leaves also contain vitamins A and B complex and many minerals, including phosphorus and potassium.

When to use: There are two basic points of view on the subject. There is agreement among many
clinicians that in the 3rd trimester frequent (2- 3 cups per day of tea or 1 – 2 cups per day of infusion) is
beneficial to the uterine and pelvic muscles.

The more radical point of view is that drinking one cup of tea per day in the 1st trimester and 2 cups in the 2nd trimester and switching to the infusion in the 3rd trimester ensures a strong uterus, is good for you nutritionally and prevents miscarriage. Some say it is advised to not use it in the first trimester, particularly if you have a history of miscarriage. If a mother is prone to miscarriages she may feel safer avoiding raspberry until the third trimester. This is an herb with centuries of safe use behind it, there is usually little cause for concern, but check with your healthcare provider before using.

According to Susun Weed, author of “Wise Woman, Herbal for the Childbearing Year,” the benefits
listed below for drinking a Raspberry leaf brew before and throughout pregnancy are as follows:

• Increasing fertility in both men and women. Red Raspberry leaf is an excellent fertility herb when
  combined with Red Clover.
•  Preventing miscarriage and hemorrhage. Raspberry leaf tones the uterus and helps prevent
  miscarriage and postpartum hemorrhage from a relaxed or atonic uterus.
• Use raspberry leaf infusion to help facilitate placenta delivery. Chips of frozen raspberry leaf infusion
  sucked throughout labor help keep the uterus working strongly and smoothly.
•  Easing of morning sickness. Many women attest to raspberry leaves’ gentle relief of nausea and
  stomach distress throughout pregnancy. Drink a cup or two of raspberry leaf tea or infusion each day.
  Sipping the infusion before getting up or sucking on ice cubes made from the infusion increases the
  strength of this remedy.
•  Reducing pain during labor and after birth. By toning the muscles used during labor and birth,
  Raspberry leaf eliminates many of the reasons for a painful birth and prolonged recovery. It does not
  counter the pain of dilation of the cervix.
• Red Raspberry Leaves do not start or encourage labor. It can help the contractions to be productive
  once true labor has begun because it strengthens the uterine and pelvic muscles but it is not an oxytonic
  herb (one that would induce labor). That being said, it’s important to talk with your midwife,
  obstetrician or herbalist before beginning drinking red raspberry leaf tea or taking a supplement. Some
  will recommend you wait until you are 36 weeks along before incorporating the tea into your health
  regime while others may encourage you to begin right away. Each situation and pregnancy is different
  so it’s best to get other’s opinions before beginning red raspberry leaf tea.

Tea recipe: To make a tea, pour 1 cup boiling water over 2 teaspoons of herb and steep for ten minutes. Strain. During the first two trimesters, drink 1 cup per day. During the final trimester, drink 2-3 cups per day.

Excerpts from Weed, Susun. “Wise Woman Herbal Childbearing Year.”http://www.motherandchildhealth.com/Prenatal/raspberry.html

Presented by Angel J. Miller, MSN, CNM

www.midwiferycareassociates.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/angeljmiller

Building a Strong Foundation for Your Pregnancy

Contemplating pregnancy?  Nutritional and optimal health should be priority number one!  Women contemplating pregnancy must keep in mind that healthy eating habits and healthy lifestyle behaviors should be established before pregnancy to make sure proper nutrient levels for early embryo development and growth.

Eating a balanced diet that includes the proper amount servings of protein, grains, fruit, and vegetables is key. Protein is essential to the very foundation of your baby’s growth. Eating enough protein ensures that your little one, from the very beginning, is getting adequate food stores to support cell growth and blood production.  Regular exercise should also be incorporated in your daily routine to prepare your body for the demands of pregnancy. Habits such as drinking or smoking must be avoided to allow for optimal health and development of the child during pregnancy and after birth.  Good habits should  include taking a daily multivitamin or a daily prenatal vitamin.  Even if you are consuming healthy foods daily, you can miss out on key nutrients.  A daily prenatal vitamin — ideally starting three months before conception — can help fill any gaps.  A quality, fast absorbing prenatal vitamin is necessary for all the basic micronutrients needed during pregnancy.

Through the course of pregnancy there is an increased need for nutrients and calories to make sure proper fetal growth. The increased need for vitamins and minerals such as folate, calcium and iron is necessary to prevent birth defects, ensure proper bone formation/retention, and to reduce the risks of preeclampsia or anemia. Folic acid intake increases to a daily amount of 800 mcg, calcium to 1200 mg, and iron to 30 mg. Your Vitamin D levels should be checked with your initial prenatal labs to be sure you levels are not insufficient or deficient.  Fetal needs for vitamin D increase during the latter half of pregnancy, when bone growth and ossification are most prominent. Vitamin D travels to the fetus by passive transfer, and the fetus is entirely dependent on maternal stores. Your body needs vitamin D to maintain proper levels of calcium and phosphorus, which help build your baby’s bones and teeth. A vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy can cause growth retardation and skeletal deformities. It may also have an impact on birth weight.  Therefore, maternal status is a direct reflection of fetal nutritional status.

Researchers believe that a vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy can affect bone development and immune function from birth through adulthood.

Blog by Shelia Kirkbride

What Do I Do When My Bag of Waters Break?

It is common to be in labor without your water breaking.  Actually, only thirty percent of women experience their water breaking before the start of labor.

What Is My Bag of Waters?   The bag of waters—or amniotic sac—is a bag or “membrane filled with fluid that surrounds your baby in your uterus during pregnancy.”  The bag of waters is very important to your baby’s health.  The fluid protects your baby and gives your baby room to move around.  The bag itself protects your baby from infections that may get into your vagina.

  Is it urine or is it amniotic fluid? If you are leaking, it can be difficult to determine if your membranes are leaking or if it is urine.  In most cases, it is probably urine.  There are several ways to tell the difference, but there is no definite answer.  When in doubt, smell it! Urine has a distinct smell and color.  You will leak urine when your bladder is full, when coughing , sneezing or laughing; even when you are exercising.  

Only 3 percent of pregnant women will go into premature labor (before 37 weeks) as a result of ruptured membranes.   In most cases your membranes will rupture as you are nearing the end of your pregnancy, and this is definitely one of the early signs of labor.  If your water does break in public, and you have visions of a huge gush of water running all over the floor, then you have probably been watching too many movies.  It is most likely going to occur as a slow trickle, or at most, a small gush of fluid of colorless and odorless amniotic fluid. 

It is common to be in labor without your water breaking.  Actually, only thirty percent of women experience their water breaking before the start of labor.

What Should You Do When Your Water Breaks ?  First, don’t panic!  Follow the instructions your healthcare provider discussed with you if and when your water breaks.  Immediately after your water breaks, know that nothing should be placed in your vagina at this point.  This will help prevent infection.

•  Wear a maxi pads, not tampons, to keep the amniotic fluid from wetting your clothes
• Keep your vaginal area clean
•  When you go to the bathroom,  be sure to wipe from front to back
•  Sexual intercourse is officially off-limits  

Call your healthcare Provider immediately if:  

• Your due date is more than 3 weeks away from today
•  The water is green, or yellow, or brown, or has a bad smell
•   You have a history of genital herpes, whether or not you have any herpes sores right now
•  You have a history of Group B strep infection (“GBS positive”)
•  You don’t know if you have GBS or not
•  Your baby is not in the head-down position, or you’ve been told it is very high in your pelvis
•  You have had a very quick labor in the past, or feel rectal pressure now
•  You are worried.
•  If you feel something in your vagina, or see any of the umbilical cord at the vaginal opening, get medical help immediately  

Call your health care provider within a few hours if:

 •Your due date is within the next 3 weeks and

 • You are not in labor and the fluid is clear, pink, or has white flecks in it

 • Your baby is in the head-down position

 •Some health care providers will want you to come in to the office to confirm that the bag of waters has broken and listen to the baby’s heartbeat as soon as you notice that the bag of waters has broken.  Others will suggest you stay home for several hours to wait for labor to start.  

What Do I Do Until Labor Starts?   Most women will go into labor within 48 hours.  If you are waiting for labor to start and your bag of waters has broken:  

• Put on a clean pad  

•Do not put anything in your vagina

 •Drink plenty of liquids—a cup of water or juice each hour you are awake

 •Get some rest

 •Take a shower

 •If there is any change in your baby’s movements, call your health care provider right away  

Check your temperature with a thermometer every 4 hours—call right away if your temperature goes above 99.6.   For more information regarding this topic visit:

  www.acnm.org  

www.webmd.com

 

Group B Strep in Pregnancy: Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Group B Strep (GBS)?
GBS is one of many common bacteria that live in the human body without causing harm in healthy people. GBS develops in the intestine from time-to-time, so sometimes it is present and sometimes it is not. Group B Strep or GBS can be found in the intestine, rectum, and vagina in about 2 of every 10 pregnant women near the time of birth. GBS is NOT a sexually transmitted disease, and it does not cause discharge, or itching. Unfortunately, it can cause a bladder/urinary tract infection.

2. How Does GBS Cause Infection?
At the time of birth, babies are exposed to the GBS bacteria if it is present in the vagina, which can result in pneumonia or a blood infection. Full-term babies who are born to moms who carry GBS in the vagina at the time of birth have a 1 in 200 chance of getting sick from GBS during the first few days after being born. Occasionally, moms can also get a postpartum infection in the uterus.

3. How Do You Know if You Have GBS?
Around your 35th to 36th week, during a regular prenatal visit, your healthcare provider will collect a sample by touching the outer part of your vagina and just inside the anus with a sterile Q-tip. If GBS grows in the culture that is sent to the lab from that Q-tip sample, your provider will make a note in your chart, and you will be notified at your next prenatal visit that you are GBS positive, The GBS protocol for a positive culture will be discussed at your next visit with your healthcare provider and the expectations of care when you are in labor.

4. How Can Infection from GBS Be Prevented if My Culture is Positive?
If your GBS culture is positive within 4 to 5 weeks before you give birth, your healthcare provider will recommend that you receive antibiotics during labor. GBS is very sensitive to antibiotics (penicillin or penicillin family) and is easily removed from the vagina. A few intravenous doses given up to 4 hours before birth almost always prevents your baby from picking up the bacteria during the birth. It is important to remember that GBS is typically not harmful to you or your baby before you are in labor.

5. Do You Have to Wait for Labor to Take the Antibiotics?
Although GBS is easy to remove from the vagina, it is not easy to remove from the intestine where it lives normally and without harm to you. Although GBS is not dangerous to you or your baby before birth, if you take antibiotics before you are in labor, GBS will return to the vagina from the intestine, as soon as you stop taking the medication. Therefore, it is best to take penicillin during labor when it can best help you and your baby. The one exception is that, occasionally, GBS can cause a urinary tract infection during pregnancy. If you get a urinary tract infection, it should be treated at the time it is diagnosed, and then you should receive antibiotics again when you are in labor.

6. How Will We Know if Your Baby Is Infected?
Babies who get sick from infection with GBS almost always do so in the first 24 hours after birth. Symptoms include difficulty with breathing (including grunting or having poor color), problems maintaining temperature (too cold or too hot), or extreme sleepiness that interferes with nursing.

7. What Is the Treatment for a Baby with GBS Infection?
If the infection is caught early and your baby is full-term, most babies will completely recover with intravenous antibiotic treatment. Of the babies who get sick, about one in six can have serious complications. Some very seriously ill babies will die. In the large majority of cases if you carry GBS in the vagina at the time of birth and if you are given intravenous antibiotics in labor, the risk of your baby getting sick is 1 in 4,000.

8. What If You Are Allergic to Penicillin?
Penicillin or a penicillin-type medication is the antibiotic recommended for preventing GBS infection. Women who carry GBS at the time of birth and who are allergic to penicillin can receive different antibiotics during labor. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you are allergic to penicillin and what symptoms you had when you got that allergic reaction. If your penicillin allergy is mild, you will be offered one type of antibiotic, and if it is severe, you will be offered a different one.

Provided by Angel J. Miller, MSN, CNM