6.7.11

Tea Drinking

06_07_preg_silhouette
So you might have noticed that I haven't been blogging as much lately. I've been thinking a bit about why this is so and I don't have a particularly good reason. It just is so at the moment and in the end I've decided not to worry too much about it.

Anyway, I'm still pregnant. Incredibly slow, a little over the bump and embracing Germany's obsession with tea and all things herbal. Of all the strange cultural differences between Australia and Germany the thing that I've found most amusing during my pregnancy is how obsessed Germans are with tea. There is a tea for everything. In first trimester it was ginger tea for nausea. Then there's the general Pregnancy Tea - good for all round pregnancy goodness and filled, I think, with a mix of fennel, raspberry leaf, dandelion and other herbal leaves.
Tea Party
When Germany had it's first burst of hot weather my body decided that retaining all the fluid that I was consuming was a good idea. This resulted in a crazy amount of leg oedema that prevented shoe wearing, precipitated leg cramps and was the general source of a lot of grumpiness in our house. The solution? Yep, tea. Nettle Tea to be precise, and a stronger version Pregnancy Tea against Oedema combined with lymphatic massage and a slow and steady adjustment to the hotter weather.

My hairdresser (the keeper of all good German related information) informed me the other day that I should switch from Peppermint Tea to Fennugreek Tea, as peppermint is bad for breastfeeding whereas Fennugreek Tea is well known to help bring in the milk. Unsolicited pregnancy advice tends to come in the form of Tea recommendations here which I find culturally incredibly fascinating. Better than unsolicited "bump touching" anyway.
There's a tea for that
Perhaps the most amusing Tea/Herbal remedy that is wildly talked about here is the Heublumen sitzbad (Hay Sitting Bath). This is not a tea, but a steam bath to soften muscles and relax your cervix in readiness for labour. You essentially boil up some Hay in water and then sit your bottom half over the steam. I can't find any information in english about this particular labour preparation technique. But I've decided to embrace it despite it reminding me a little of steaming open an envelope. A Berlin baby deserves the full Berlin experience - Heublumen sitzbad and all!

25 comments:

Kristina said...

I was just laughing loud while reading your post. It is true! I also have special teas at home; one you drink when you have a cold, another for stomach problems etc.... :) Guess, I am truely german :) hope you are doing well!!

Anika said...

Adorable photos...love the moment you captured in the last image especially. {You find the most stylish pregnancy wear!} Blogging breaks are good. Especially when something so nice is happening in your life and won't ever be the same.
I love tea...I was surprised to learn that Rosemary is not good to take while pregnant-does something too speedy to the blood.

Look forward to reading and seeing more whenever you have time-frequent or not ;) Enjoy your days!

HRANDICA said...

I have to laugh, because I had the similar experiance with "german" tea.I thought I was in England. :)) I wish you a beautiful rest of your pregnancy.
Hugs

Lisa Gordon said...

Here in the states and depending on who you talk to, there is a tea for everything also, but I have definitely not heard of the Hay Sitting bath! I love it!

I am glad you are doing well and am looking forward to this little one's arrival!!

Rhianne said...

being English I do believe that tea solves everything but I only drink the one kind lol.

love the photos

Simon said...

I love that opening shot with the mirrored silhouettes. I'm amazed that you can blog at all. Never having had kiddos myself, that whole pregnancy thing-I'm in awe of anyone who can do it.
As for tea. I forget to drink it and stick to coffee unless I'm with a cold.
Always great to read your posts, frequent or from time to time.
Hope that baby makes a gentle appearance on schedule.

urban muser said...

i love this post. and although you are not blogging as much lately, i hope you will report back about the hay sitting bath :)

amanda {the habit of being} said...

too funny! here in the states the unsolicited pregnancy advice and touching of the bump are unbearable. btw, your friend is right, fenugreek is great for fortifying the breast milk ;-)

Ashley Sisk said...

I love how your baby bump seems to fit right in with this scene.

Jamie said...

Love this - I had no idea there was tea for everything. Ask your hair dresser if there is a tea to make a blind date less painful, we could market it here in the US and make a fortune.

Stephanie said...

I swear the Erkältungstee I bought in Germany is better than anything similar I can buy in the US. One cup - that funny tickle in my throat is gone! I miss having all those different teas to try! It seems like in the US and Australia we've forgotten that there are different ways to achieve good, healthy results like that.

Bells said...

oh i think I'd fit in there very well - I love to take different teas for different remedies and am currently exploring teas I can make from my own herbs in the garden!

Lovely photos.

SJ said...

ha ha, i love the idea of the hay steam bath! everyone has so many ideas about childbirth and pregnancy, you might as well try some of the unsual ones!

ELK said...

you look so great .. tea is for EVERYTHING!!

Monique said...

Wow look at you seems like you have such a wealth of knowledge. I really love herbs. I took them to make my periods regular and it totally worked. I'm glad you are using medicine from the land. You must have such a cozy womb the baby just loves it in there. wishing you well. oh and glad you were able to address the water retention issues. Much love and good luck!

Clare said...

Hilarious! If only you could gently 'steam open' a cervix, would save a lot of bother come birthday time. Good luck Bear, thinking of you all the time - you are a beautiful tea-drinking earth Mother-to-be. xx

Kelly said...

Enjoy this time as you wait for your sweet baby! Tea and relaxation sounds like a great way to do that!

Mikko Tyllinen said...

such a lovely pictures! its good to enjoy of tea its really healthy! personaly i love gree tea! :)

Anonymous said...

Really, Heublumendampf? How interesting... I hope it works - surely it doesn't hurt to try :)

shopgirl said...

All this tea obsession sounds like you're in England, but I guess it's nice to know that people care and want to help you with advice. On a side note about blogging, no worries, it's all part of the cycle. You blog when you feel that you have something to share. :-))

Nice to see that your pregnancy is going well Claire. Wishing you the best with it in this hot weather.
xo

Chrissy said...

Hi Clare, I havent looked at your Blog for ages.... Probably since i stopped using a "real" computer - lately my iPhone has everything I "need" - facebook, email and sms... but I was missing out big time. And since I am not at work there is really no need to get onto a poota. I have loved catching up on all your blogs - amazing photos and insights!

Hope you are well, I LOVE the baby bump, and although you must be well and truely over it dont worry, the end is nigh, and soon enough it will be gone and replaced with a beautiful pink bundle of joy.
Awaiting the exciting news!
C xx

TT said...

I love that tea pot. Good luck with the last run of the pregnancy.

World Tour Stories. A couple of lovers sailing around the world.

Stella said...

Love this post!! Love the photos, and the wee blanket you're kneeling on, and the talk of tea... My first pregnancy was also filled with tea drinking, mama supplied me with every type of tea she felt I needed, haha! Can't say the raspberry leaf helped much, or maybe I just didn't drink enough... 11 days over and a 50 hour labour, dooooom! I'll drink a lot more this time!

Elizabeth@rosalilium said...

I love that - a tea for all ills? And with pregnancy everyone has an opinion or advice for you....hope it's going well for you.x.

Lindsay @ Delighted Momma said...

You are just the cutest! congrats on your pregnancy. I have also heard that about peppermint tea..teas really are so powerful and its crazy how they can have such strong effect on our bodies. Ugggh unsolicited bump touching always annoyed me too!