Red Raspberry Leaf Tea Recipe

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea is a herbal tea that is also used as a uterine tonic.  It basically makes your uterus work out.  This is a great relief (I hear) for menstrual cramping.  It is also said to tone the uterus and help soften the cervix when preparing for labour.

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea does not induce labour. 

 It only helps tone the large uterine muscle to make contractions work more efficiently and is said to cut down on pushing time.  I used this for my first child and only pushed for 45 minutes in total.  Not sure if that was my body naturally or a result of drinking the tea.  Either way, I am not taking chances this time!

It is suggested not to start drinking this tea until you are well into your third trimester.  Please consult your physician/midwife if you decide to try Red Raspberry Leaf Tea.

Now that that is all out of the way - the recipe!!

I hate tea, but I love iced tea (especially herbal tea).  I got this idea from the Passion Tea Lemonade at Starbucks.  I thought, hm, I love that, maybe I should turn this into Iced Tea Lemonade.

Red Raspberry Iced Tea Lemonade

Ingredients
4x Red Raspberry Tea Leaf Bags (Get them here online.  They also have them at some grocery stores)
1x Pack of Lemonade Sugar Crystals
6x Ice Cubes

Instructions

1. Brew four cups of tea as specified.  If you have tea bags, place 1 tea bag per 4 mugs. Place boiling water into mugs. Cover and let steep for 15 minutes.  
2. Make 1 pack of Lemonade Sugar Crystals in large pitcher.  This should come out to 3 cups of lemonade.  If you choose another form of lemonade, measure out to 3 cups.
3. After tea has steeped for appropriate amount of time, pour into pitcher with lemonade
4. Add approx. 6 ice cubes and stir.  Refrigerate and enjoy.

I could drink this mixture all day everyday (I do right now basically!).  You can add sugar/sweetener to taste if need be.

If you find you still can't drink the herbal tea, they also sell Red Raspberry Leaf Tea pills I have heard.  I have yet to come across them though.

Have any of you tried Red Raspberry Leaf Tea or capsules?  Did you think they worked for you?  Have you even heard of them before?  Let me know!

The Birth Plan

Know what a birth plan is?  Neither did I until I took prenatal classes with Baby A.

A birth plan is basically just a sheet of paper you give to your nurses, midwife, OB and people in the room who will be assisting you with birth.  It gives them details on what you would like to happen during the labour and delivery process.  For example, what pain relief/drugs (if any) you would like.  What to do in the event an unexpected cesarean section is needed.  Believe me, you won't be in the mood to talk it through in the middle of labour.

For Baby A I didn't really put much stock in a birth plan.  I figured I would just go to the hospital and let things play out.

Boy, did I ever regret not having a birth plan afterwards.

I was induced with Baby A after going a week overdue.  Even still, I wish I had finished the one I started and given it to my nurse and kept a copy for my husband to hang onto.  This time I am determined to arrive at the hospital with birth plan in hand and enough copies for all the staff if I have to!

So... how do you start making a birth plan?

Get informed first.  Take prenatal classes that inform you about birth procedures and the types of pain relief that are available to you along with their effects.  Take a hospital tour.  Speak with your OB.

Birth plans: what doctors, nurses, and midwives really think about them via BabyCenter 

Then, I did what I normally do.  I Googled it.  Of course, that comes up with a gajillion replies to sift through.  How do you decide which one?

Well, read through them and make sure they cover all the things that you would like to touch on.  Here are a few examples:

• Semi-Detailed Birth Plan via BabyCenter
• Pretty Detailed Birth Plan via Earth Mama Angel Baby Organics
• Informative/Simple Birth Plan via Nestlé Baby

You could also just type up your own birth plan in a word processor of your choice and print it off.  I go for the click and fill in approach as not to forget anything.  But, if you are one of those Mama's who knows exactly what she wants and wants to be straight-forward, a simple letter would suffice to your healthcare professionals.  Birth plans are meant to clear the way for conversations and discussions.

And remember, no matter what your birth plan may be always be prepared for it to change.  Every labour and delivery is different and no one can predict what will happen.

Did any of you guys have a birth plan?  Did you find it made a difference?  Did you not have a birth plan and wish that you did?  Sound off!!

Mommy Brain - Keeping on Top of Things (Sort of)

Mommy Brain: when you are pregnant/have children and you start to lose your mind.  Milk goes into the pantry, you have no idea why you went into the kitchen, you forget anything that is not written on a list and then forget the list at home.  The term is used to describe how forgetful and dazed women can be, mostly during pregnancy.

There are plenty of articles on the internet detailing how/why they believe, scientifically, "mommy brain" happens.  I am not going to get into all of that here.  Quite frankly, they all have different ideas and I just don't have the time or want to research it all.  Short story short, being pregnant makes my brain turn to goo.

Normally, I have remarkable memory recall.  However, when I am pregnant that all goes down the drain.  The first time I got pregnant I had sticky notes stuck pretty much everywhere in my house for everything and anything.  Luckily, I was more prepared for this pregnancy.

Here are a few tips of how I keep on top of things:

1. Google Calendar -

   

   My Calendar for January 2014 so far...

   Google Calendar is my saviour.  
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Since my very first doctors appointment everything has been going into that neat little thing.  Every appointment card, every central scheduling letter and every activity for Baby A go into Google Calendar as soon as I make them.  I can set my own alarms/reminders, colour code everything and put in additional notes and addresses.  Best thing - I can access it on any computer and even on my iPhone.  I would seriously be lost without this.

     2. iPhone - Or any smartphone for that matter.  

I access my all-important Google Calendar on my phone.  I also have all the phone numbers for my doctors and the hospital stored in the phone.  I get my email reminders for appointments sent there as pop-ups in the morning.  The "notes" app is also handy so as long as I remember my phone, I remember my "to-get" list.

      3. Post-It Notes -

 

Even in this age of technology some things will never beat a piece of paper and a pen.  I have a couple of "to-do" lists taped/stuck to my computer desk reminding me of things that need to be done around the house.

      

 

4. Google Drive - Okay, I am a pretty big advocate of Google but I love the Drive so much.

Example of my Package Tracker on Google Drive using Spreadsheet

 I use the Google Drive a lot.  We have 3 computers in my house (which I use regularly) and I like to have access to my documents on all of them.  I use Google Drive to keep my list of things we still need for Baby J (which is a shared doc between my husband and I).  I also use it to keep track of orders I have made online and to make sure everything is arriving on time.

Everyone has different ways to keep on top of things, but these are the staples in my life right now (and probably after with two small children).

How do you keep on top of things?  Sound off below!  I love to hear new ideas to help me stay organized!!