Pregnancy third trimester tea recipe

Welcome back, my friend! Today I’d love to share with you my recipe for delicious and helpful pregnancy third trimester tea! This tea is not only refreshing and tasty, it contains 5 wonderful herbs that are often recommended by midwives and other mothers to support you in the third trimester.

This tea was somewhat inspired by the third trimester teas you can buy ready blended in bags. I’m talking about HotTea Mama The Final Push, and Mama Bloom Third Trimester Tea.

This sort of tea is very convenient, however it’s so expensive! You can pick all these herbs up at Buy Whole Foods Online and whip up your very own tea blend for a fraction of the cost! It’s a no brainer.

The blend of herbs in my third trimester tea

I’ve drunk red raspberry leaf tea in all three of my previous pregnancies – now I’m pregnant with my fourth and I’m looking to add a few extra herbs that I’ve heard can help.

Did drinking red raspberry leaf help to shorten my previous labours? Did it stop me going overdue? I’m pretty sure it helped – my first baby came 4 days “late” and my labour was 12 hours – there were a few minor complications. My second baby came 2 days after her due date and labour was 7 hours long. My third baby came 3 days “early” and again, my labour with her was 7 hours long. All unmedicated and uncomplicated, which I’m so grateful for!

I definitely believe in the power of red raspberry leaf tea!

Pregnancy tea safety

Before we begin, a necessary safety warning. These traditional herbs have been used for centuries by pregnant women. However, you probably already know that you should always consult your midwife or doctor before taking any herbs in pregnancy.

When to start drinking third trimester tea

Red raspberry leaf and nettle tea can increase uterine contractions, although there are no studies proving this causes labour to start early. The advice is to start and increase slowly.

In week 32 of your pregnancy, start with 1 cup a day.
In week 33, add an extra cup to make it 2 cups per day.
By week 34, you can drink 3 cups a day.

Pregnancy third trimester tea herbs

So shall we look at the tea blend ingredients now? Let’s do it!

Red raspberry leaf

Red raspberry leaf has been used traditionally for centuries is recommended by midwives as it’s a uterine tonic and is thought to strengthen the contractions of the uterus during labour. It is said to reduce the chance of haemorrhage and bring about a shorter second stage of labour. After labour it can help the uterus return to its normal state and help breast milk production. I use 50% concentration in my tea blend.

If you want to learn all about drinking red raspberry leaf tea in pregnancy, then check out this excellent article from Mama Natural.

Spearmint

Mint is traditionally to aid digestion and reduce flatulence. However peppermint is known to cause heartburn. So for my third trimester tea, I chose spearmint since it’s milder and contains a lower concentration of the compounds that cause heartburn. It also has a lovely mild and sweet minty taste that’s just so cooling during pregnancy. I use 20% spearmint herb in my tea blend.

Rosehip

Rosehip is high in vitamin C, so it helps the body to absorb iron from the nettle. It’s high in vitamins A, C, and K plus flavonoids, and is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Great for skin repair following birth. I use 10% in my tea blend.

Dandelion

Dandelion is the perfect tea for good all round health. It’s a diuretic, so it might help with the swelling and water retention caused by pregnancy. Unlike other diuretics, it contains plenty of potassium so doesn’t deplete the body of this essential mineral. I use 10% in this tea blend.

Nettle

Nettle is a bit controversial during pregnancy and including it in my blend is a little personal – it’s highly nutritious, and good for the vascular system, and varicose veins – which have plagued me since my first pregnancy. I only use it at 10% concentration in my tea.

My tasty pregnancy third trimester tea recipe contains 5 herbs known to support you in later pregnancy and labour, including red raspberry leaf tea.

If you have any worries at all about the safety of drinking nettle tea, please consult your midwife or doctor before drinking my tea.

Where to buy your herbal teas

I buy mine from Buy Whole Foods Online (not an ad – I just love them!).

The recipe makes 50g of tea.

Red raspberry leaf 25g
Spearmint 10g
Rosehip 5g
Dandelion 5g
Nettle 5g

Weigh all your tea ingredients into a big bowl. The raspberry leaf is bulkier than the other teas, so to ensure a homogenous blend, you can break up the raspberry leaf with your fingers or a fork. I haven’t experimented with a coffee grinder or food processor but it might be worth a try!

Brewing your homemade third trimester tea

You can use any kind of loose tea pot for this recipe. You could also use a cheap tea ball infuser. But once you start drinking 3 cups a day it might start getting a little tedious!

To brew the tea, pour over boiling water and let it stand for 5 minutes or more. A longer brew time results in a darker tea and a stronger flavour.

Use 1 teaspoon of the loose tea per cup. I use 3 teaspoons in my tea pot and make all my tea for the day.

Drinking your tea

You can drink it hot or cold.

Cold tea ideas

You can add a dash of juice or a cold tea infusion bag. I really like the Twinings Cold Infuse Passionfruit, Mango & Orange bags! Mama Natural drinks hers with coconut milk!

Hot tea ideas

Add fresh mint leaves, honey, or other natural sweeteners for a comforting brew!