Castor oil to induce labor...yay or nay?

Jenn - posted on 01/07/2011

I did not use it or ever consider it. I did have to be induced at 42 weeks and it still took a long time - my cervix was not ready at all.

Joy - posted on 01/07/2011

I was told by my doctor to NOT EVER do this. I admit, when I was overdue and still not a twinge of a contraction, I did buy some caster oil. But I couldn't bring myself to drink it. From what I read, and from what my doc told me, all it does is stimulate the muscles in your abdomen because it makes you poop. Sometimes, late in pregnancy, the stimulation of those muscles that you use to poop, can stimulate all of the muscles down there (your uterus is basically a muscle), therefore causing labor to begin. I wouldn't do it though. I did brave a cup of raspberry root tea at 41 weeks though....that didn't work either lol

Shelley - posted on 01/07/2011

I used castor oil and yes it worked within 2 hours water broke and the oil had cleaned me out. The downside was that the labor didn't progress properly so my waters broke early but i was in labor for 36 hours which brought on fetal distress i then had to have a c-section where my daughters umbillical cord had disintegrated and turned to jelly and had disconnected itself from my daughter it appeared that my dates had been wrong and she was aprox 4 weeks early and very small.
I would definately never do it again or reccomend it to any one else

Rosie - posted on 01/07/2011

oh and all the boob playing didnt work. i was induced a day after i was due with vinnie, and a week before i was due with lucas. each time i was 2-4 sm. 50% or more effaced, no mucous plug, yada yada for WEEKS. no stinking baby. they like it in me apparantly.

Rosie - posted on 01/07/2011

i thought about it, but the idea of ingesting that stuff sickened me. i had my hubby playing with my boobs all the time, and *I* played with my boobs all the time trying to induce labor. sex wasn't really all that possible with my last pregnancy so it didn't happen much after 4 months.

i was to scared to actually ingest herbal things thinking i'd take something that wasn't good for us. i didn't have a computer then so i couldnt' check the facts of old wives tales. :)

Erin - posted on 01/07/2011

I tried everything bar the sex too Cathy! RRL tea, Evening Primrose Oil, walking, swimming, spicy food. At my last appointment (at 8 days overdue) I was 4cm with a bulging bag of water. The doc was confident it would break soon. So what did I do? Went home and did star jumps! lmao You've seen my belly pictures.. can you imagine it?

Cathy - posted on 01/07/2011

I tried spicy food (got heartburn), I tried pineapple, I tried long walks, couldn't try sex with the first child as I was very single at that point. By 1 1/2 weeks overdue I even started praying....

LaCi - posted on 01/07/2011

groooooss.

bleh. Just thinking about it makes me nauseous.

Toni - posted on 01/07/2011

Yuck, there is no way I would try that...(she says) I don't know what I'll do if i get to full term let alone if I go over with this one - I was induced at 37 weeks with Ethan and I was miserable then (maybe because I was ill - I was really sick on top of contractions, I wouldn't wish it on anyone). Seriously if I go over I will try sex WITH nipple stimulation (never heard that one before but sounds good to me ;-) ), probably not spicy foods or pineapple because the heartburn is already starting by the end of the last preg I couldn't eat much more than plain bland foods (yuck) and galleons of milk (mmmm yummy), walking and definately NOT caster oil - yuck that turns my stomach just thinking about it.

Erin - posted on 01/07/2011

haha Cathy

Erin - posted on 01/07/2011

I think it's probably like every other method of induction (both natural and medicinal)... it will only work if your body is already on it's way.

Cathy - posted on 01/07/2011

I did try it! Mixed a spoonful into a glass of orange juice.



Tasted foul, didn't work!



*edit to add* I think I spat most of it out, which is maybe why it didn't work!

Erin - posted on 01/07/2011

No way. I've actually posted on people's FB status' advising them not to do it after some random person pipes up with the suggestion.

I went 11 days past my EDD with my daughter, and believe me when I say I was miserable. But I never even considered it.

Sarah - posted on 01/07/2011

Er, no!
The main reason for me personally is that it must taste FOUL!!! lol

No, I think it's a dangerous way to try and induce labour.

Nikki - posted on 01/07/2011

No way, not worth the risk. Plus yuck

Becky - posted on 01/07/2011

No! Aside from the fact that my first was an emergency induction and my second came 8 days early without needing any prompting, I had read enough about it that I never would've tried it. It's dangerous and sounds downright miserable. I don't know why someone would want to put themselves through that!

Katherine - posted on 01/06/2011

Absofuckinglutely not.

Chatty - posted on 01/06/2011

I had to take castor oil before my kidney operation....it was bloody horrible! The doctor actually perscribed how much to use because it can be VERY dangerous.

Chatty - posted on 01/06/2011

No, it can be dangerous!

Minnie - posted on 01/06/2011

Yeesh. NAY. Aside from the joys of having diahrrea and cramps on top of your contractions who wants to risk the possibility of fetal distress, meconium passing and possible aspiration?(a known result of castor oil induction)



I have to say, from personal experience, nipple stimulation is very effective at full term.

Julianne - posted on 01/06/2011

When i was induced with the gel, it made me vomit, i was horribly sick. ACH, i tried everything too, i was 2 weeks overdue and i ate spicy food, pineapple juice, (great for my outrageous heartburn btw.) I had extremely large amounts of sex, like 4 times a day. I ran up and down the steps in my apt. I did everything, nothing works.

Kate CP - posted on 01/06/2011

I know! But so many women seem to advocate it's use to induce labor. I just can't fathom being THAT sick and THEN having to push out a baby. :/

Julianne - posted on 01/06/2011

castor oil is only good for eliminating everything else from your body, vomit urine and shit. seriously its nasty stuff, you can get really sick because of it.

Jodi - posted on 01/06/2011

I was going to say that if nipple stimulation and sex doesn't get it going, leave well enough alone, chances are bub isn't baked yet.

I've heard that castor oil works because it gives such severe stomach cramps it triggers labour. I understand that it can also distress the baby. I wouldn't do it. But then, I was never overdue with mine, so I never got so desperate that it even entered my mind.

Mother - posted on 01/06/2011

OH DEAR GAWD!!!!!!!!!! I was already afraid I'd shit myself let alone introduce castor oil!!!! LOL

Sex is awesome....works like a charm.

Nicole - posted on 01/06/2011

no



Nipple stimulation does the job if you do need to speed up labour and it can be fun if you so choose