Benefits of NORA Pregnancy Tea
Learn what NORA pregnancy tea is and how this pregnancy-safe tea supports your body and baby throughout pregnancy and postpartum
If you are pregnant or trying to conceive and thinking ahead to pregnancy, you might have come across NORA tea, which stands for (stinging) nettles, oatstraw, red raspberry leaf and alfalfa tea. Or maybe you haven’t!
When I first found out I was pregnant I hadn’t heard of NORA pregnancy tea until my husband and I were listening to an episode of the Happy Homebirth Podcast (highly recommend this!). Immediately I went online to look it up, and learned that many midwives and holistic health practitioners recommend this pregnancy-safe tea to help support a woman’s body throughout her pregnancy.
But I couldn’t find anyone who was selling pre-made organic loose leaf tea blends. I had to buy the herbs in bulk and then combine them, and although I liked the ritual of making NORA pregnancy tea every 3 days, anything I could do to make my life easier was worth it. Enter our idea for Fruit of Womb Herbals.
Keep reading to learn about NORA pregnancy tea’s many nutritional benefits and how to brew your own using our organic loose leaf tea blends.
How NORA Tea Supports Pregnancy
God’s design is flawless. He gave us everything we could ever need to live. This includes so many incredible herbs that are full of vitamins and minerals that can nourish a pregnant woman and her baby.
Nettles
Stinging nettle leaf is a super herb that’s been used as a natural remedy for over 2,000 years for its various healing properties. This loose leaf tea is rich in vitamins A, C and K, and minerals calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and copper.
Combined, these nutrients nourish the blood, improve blood circulation, boost the immune system, help support fetal growth, balance electrolytes and blood sugar, promote better sleep, and even help prevent leg cramps.
Trust me, when you get towards the end of your pregnancy, you’re going to want to consume ALL the sources of magnesium, sodium and potassium to thwart off a dreaded middle-of-the-night charlie horse.
Bonus, nettle leaf is also a great herb for postpartum and can help support lactation, reduce hemorrhoids and prevent hemorrhaging!
This is not to be confused with the stinging nettle root, which may or may not be unsafe for use during pregnancy, according to the American Pregnancy Association.
Oatstraw
Oatstraw was a new herb I hadn’t heard of prior to pregnancy. I loved the rich nutty flavor, probably because I am obsessed with oatmeal and it comes from the stem and leaves of the same plant used to make this delicious breakfast dish.
Oatstraw is all about nervous system support and promoting relaxation. It’s also high in calcium, which is an important mineral for healthy, strong bone growth in both mom and baby.
Growing a baby is a lot of work, and can be a huge transition for some women, especially if this is their first baby. I know it was for me! I suddenly had to think about not just taking care of myself, but also this new life that the Lord was knitting together in my womb. And that was a bit stressful! Pregnancy changes your body physically, and mentally as well, and it can take a while to adjust. Pregnancy hormones, am I right? Layer on top of that any underlying health issues (I was previously dealing with mold illness), and this can potentially be a burden on your nervous system.
Any way you can support your body to calm the nervous system such as regular chiropractic care, prayer and meditation, prenatal massage, and herbal remedies like oatstraw can go a long way in setting you up for a successful pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
Red raspberry leaf
Out of all of these teas, this one is the most popular (and most controversial) by far. Known as a pregnancy and uterine tonic, red raspberry leaf tea has been used and recommended by midwives for ages to help women prepare their bodies for labor.
Often called “the woman’s herb,” red raspberry leaf tea contains the alkaloid fragrine, which acts on the smooth muscle to potentially help strengthen the uterus and pelvic floor.
It’s thought that by consuming the tea regularly, particularly in the 3rd trimester, women can shorten their labor times and reduce interventions or complications during birth. Although there are few evidence-based human studies to support this, we have years of ancient wisdom and historical evidence of women benefiting during pregnancy and labor from this powerful herb. In fact, most herbs in pregnancy haven’t been studied long enough to warrant “evidence-based use,” but that doesn’t mean they are inherently harmful.
If you prefer hard data, this study suggested that red raspberry leaf tea could in fact shorten labor without any identified side effects to the baby, as well as reduce the need for a cesarean (C-section), forceps or vacuum birth.
Red raspberry leaf tea in general has been used as a healing herb for centuries. It contains key vitamins and minerals like vitamin A, C and E, calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium. It’s also rich in plant compounds like tannins, flavonoids and ellagic acid, which contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can help protect our cells from damage.
It’s also been traditionally used by women to support menstrual health by reducing heavy bleeding and reducing cramping. Red raspberry leaf tea can also have a soothing effect on the digestive system, which can be very helpful throughout pregnancy and into postpartum.
Alfalfa
With usage dating all the way back to 1300 B.C. in Turkey, Alfalfa has been used by many ancient cultures for various healing purposes. The herb contains high amounts of vitamin A, D, E, and K, and is rich in magnesium, potassium, iron, calcium and folic acid. Some of the benefits of this herb for pregnancy include improved circulation and immunity, balanced blood sugar, and help with morning sickness.
Alfalfa also includes 8 different enzymes that can help stimulate appetite, promote better digestion and reduce pregnancy-related symptoms like bloating and indigestion.
High levels of vitamin K can help with proper blood clotting, which could benefit a pregnant woman later in pregnancy by reducing her risk of postpartum hemorrhaging.
Is it Safe for All Trimesters?
Because of the possible uterine toning and contracting effects of red raspberry tea, NORA pregnancy tea is not recommended for consumption in the first trimester.
This loose leaf herb, however, is safe to consume after week 16 of pregnancy. You may decide to wait until the 3rd trimester to begin drinking red raspberry leaf tea, and that’s okay.
The good news? You can omit red raspberry leaf tea during the 1st trimester to still enjoy the benefits of the other herbs! Try our NOA pregnancy tea blend until you start your 2nd trimester!
How Much NORA Tea Should I Drink?
All sources recommend a quart of NORA tea at least 5 days a week.
We sell our NOA & NORA pregnancy tea blends in two sizes — Small (60 grams), which is a 10 days supply and Large (120 grams), which is a 20 day supply — so you can give it a try, and then get to batch brewing!
How to Brew our NORA Tea
Our pre-made NOA & NORA pregnancy tea blends are a convenient way to enjoy the benefits of these pregnancy-safe herbs throughout all stages of pregnancy, and even into postpartum.
It’s easy to make, and I highly encourage you to treat this as a weekly ritual.
Here’s how to brew yourself a batch (or two!):
Add 1/4 cup of your NORA tea blend into a quart-sized mason jar. To batch brew, add 1 cup of tea blend to a gallon jar. Kombucha jars like these here work great!
Boil 4 cups of water and pour into your jar containing the tea blend. For batch brewing, boil 3.5-4 quarts of water (depending on container size, you may boil a little less to prevent the jar from being too full)
Add in any extras like honey or lemon, stir.
Cover with cheese cloth secured by a rubber band to ventilate and steep for 8+ hours or overnight. Place the jar in a cool dry place on your counter or even the fridge.
Once cooled, strain using your cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer and reheat or enjoy cold over ice for a refreshing summer treat!
Consider sweetening your tea with honey or maple syrup. I recommend 2 tsp per quart (or to taste). Try local honey for added benefits! You can also experiment and add other pregnancy-supporting herbs like ginger, peppermint or lemon juice, to taste.
It’s important that you steep the tea for at least 8 hours, or preferably overnight. This allows for the herbs to be infused into the liquid for optimal nutrient extraction. Once the tea has cooled to room temp, I usually pop it into the fridge to steep overnight.
Once your brew is ready, I recommend straining and distributing into smaller jars like quart sized mason jars and storing in the fridge until you’re ready to enjoy!
Try some today!
No matter where you’re at in your pregnancy journey, mama, it’s never too late to start prioritizing your health! These teas can be an easy way to give your body and baby the nutrients they need, and as I’ve mentioned, it can be a fun self-care ritual you set aside a few times a week just for you. Check out our store for both our NOA and NORA tea blends, available in various sizes.
