Castor oil?

Laura Zoey - posted on 05/15/2011

Haha, mine could have been the sex...idk! But at least I had cleared out my bowels cuz I didn't want to poop in the birthing tub!

Stifler's - posted on 05/15/2011

I think it's an old wives tale. It will only give you diarrhoea, make you dehydrated and too tired to push the baby out when you finally go into labour... from having sex. Hahaha.

Mel - posted on 05/15/2011

yes , meaning it brought on her labour and she was only on the toilet for an hour, do I agree with bringing on labour at 36 weeks no but it is a good thing she did as her baby was big

Jenn - posted on 05/14/2011

I never once considered doing it. Having the shits and then labour isn't a combination that sounds appealing at all.

Chatty - posted on 05/14/2011

It's dangerous! I had to take it before I had my kidney operation and it was violent and mean, and I didn't like it at all.

Ashley=) - posted on 05/14/2011

Just to add i was in labour on and off for a week before she had to be taken out...she stopped moving , well she was never a big mover but it was worrying to the docs so thats why the took me in.They gave me an internal and pushed the membrane's to one side to start contractions.I got very strong contractions were they thought it was good labour and it stopped.I was like that then for the 4 days before she came out.Drove me insane.

Isobel - posted on 05/14/2011

Mel, did I really just read a post that seemed to say it worked WELL when a friend of yours used castor oil to self induce at 36 weeks?!?!?!?

Ashley=) - posted on 05/14/2011

I was in second time around for 4days before i had my daughter.I was let out on day leave on day 3.
I went on a hunt for Castor oil.Like a junkie looking for there fix..i was so ready for my daughter to come out.
I got back to hospital with no luck of finding Castor oil.I looked in about 3 shops.
That was on a Sunday.Next day i was in pain all day.That night in hospital i passed clots and a lot of blood.
A long story short, i thank god i never found that Castor oil as it could of made things even worse.
Thank god after a e/c-section she was born alive, safe and very healthy.She was one lucky little girl.
I say please do not take it.They will make there move in time.Try to be patient.They say castor oil can cross the placenta, and all my trouble was due to her placenta.

Minnie - posted on 05/14/2011

It's definitely something I'd use as only a last resort. I think you did a good job weighing the risks vs. benefits, Laura.

Nikki - posted on 05/14/2011

I thought about it briefly, if I was overdue I did not want to be chemically induced, I didn't get the chance to really consider it because I went 2 weeks early. I don't think I would have done it in the end for the reasons Kate and Erin listed.

Laura Zoey - posted on 05/14/2011

Yeah I figured I had a risk of meconium already as she was so late, I was quite done with bm before labor, and I guess proper hydration is in the moms hands to keep on top of! Idk if I'd do it in any other situation, but I'm glad it all worked out!

Erin - posted on 05/13/2011

haha great minds Kate ;)

Erin - posted on 05/13/2011

There is some research that says castor oil can trigger the baby to release meconium. So I didn't take it, and went to 41+4wks. But then I also think pitocin is evil, so I wouldn't want to do that either (not just because of the lunatic ctx, but because of the stress on the baby).

I don't know what I would have done in your situation Laura. But I'm very glad your homebirth went well!

Kate CP - posted on 05/13/2011

No, I think it's too risky. It can seriously dehydrate you and has been linked to babies passing meconium in the womb. Unless your body is already ready to go into labor NOTHING (not even pitocin or AROM) will make you go into labor.

Mel - posted on 05/13/2011

Mechelle - the midwives told me because of the pressure of the babys head that everything would be "out" before the actual delivery

Mechelle - posted on 05/13/2011

I tried a lot to get labor to start with my 2nd, and I read about castor oil on the internet because I heard it induced labor. From the research I did, there is no evidence that it starts labor. All it does is give you the scoots(diarrhea), and knowing my luck I would go into labor while I had the scoots and go all over the dr's and my newborn.

So, I decided it wasn't worth it. Our bodies know when it is time, and if the dr's who are license and know what they are doing, think that it is time, they will do what is necessary to keep you and your baby healthy.

I prefer the chemical induction because I am monitored by dr.'s and they know what to do, although I did have a bad experience the 2nd time I was induced, but it was not due to the medication they gave me.

Laura Zoey - posted on 05/13/2011

Haha, I read that article before and decided to do it! But wanting an unmedicated home birth might make a difference when weighing options....

Katherine - posted on 05/13/2011

http://www.justmommies.com/articles/cast...

Ugh, no thanks!!!!!

Laura Zoey - posted on 05/13/2011

I took it cuz iwas 41.5 weeks and my midwife started talking induction cuz I wasn't responding to the stripped membranes or the homeopathic stuff, soi figured better this then hospital etc, so idk if it's what did it, or maybe all the other stuff we did that day, but I was in labor 6 hours after the castor oil.....labor hurt awful, but it was my first unmedicated labor and so I have nothing to compare to. But I went from 1.5-10 cm in 4 hrs so I wonder if the speed was affectedly it....anyways, worked great for me, but I'd say it shouldn't be used until 41 weeks for sure!

Mel - posted on 05/13/2011

Alot of my friends used it thought it was great one of my friends used it at 36 weeks and it worked perfect for her and her baby was stil a big baby, and a lady at the checkouts at the shop told me her friend told her ot use it at 36 weeks also and it worked for her...but Ive had friends who drank the bottle were sick for the whole night and it did not put them into labour theyneeded to get an induction in the end. DOesnt work for everyone

Mel - posted on 05/13/2011

I always thought it was too risky, then when I was overdue withmys econd baby I went in to see the midwives at the hospital and they gave me a whole heap of things to try , the pineapple, laxatives, every things even castor oil, I had always told her I thought it was dangerous, she said not dangerous at all, so I considerd it and did all the research into it which showed in half of pregnant women it did induce labour, but in the end decided it wasnt for me and I had heard about the horrible pains, and all the other down sides. SO yep got my induction 8 days over due. I used ot be strong against it but after hearing what the mdiwives had to say Ive come to realise it is a personal choice...but I would probably not do it myself...I have alow pain tolerance

Nikkole - posted on 05/13/2011

I feel its too risky for me my friend tried to pressure me into taking it because she did, but when she took it sure she went into labor but she ended up having a c section! I just wouldn't do it!