Castor oil to induce labour?

[jenmcn1]

I'm sure this question has been asked 100 times...but I am trying to get labour going (since last week)...and dr's WANT me to go into labour and have this baby by sunday, or I will be having a csection! So my question is...should I try to take castor oil? I don't want to take it if it means baby will go into distress or something.
But if it means I have crazy diarrhea for a whole day and it starts labour, than thats worth it to me rather than having to go through surgery!

Any advice? Thanks in advance!!

 

[Sunshine12]

Personally, there is not a chance I would risk it. I would rather get a section than take any risk of hurting baby. I know some people dont think there is a risk but I do so I couldnt take that chance but thats just me. x

 

[gk1701]

I was going to say- I heard it will give you the runs but it might be worth it in your case. Why are they making you have a c-sec and not just inducing you? I guess I would try everything- sex, walking, birth ball, spicey food, egg plant, sweep.

 

[lauraemily17]

I understand the risk is extreme dehydration to you & bubs which can have terrie consequences. I don't know if that's proven though so for me I wouldn't risk it. Go for a very very very hot curry instead & lots & lots of sex!

 

[jenmcn1]

Well Im not going to take that risk without consulting my dr about it. I just want the "facts" behind it, and make my decision from there.
I certainly wouldn't put my baby at risk...but struggle with the possibility of surgery. Having to care for a 3 yr old and newborn alone, after a csection would be interesting. But again if I knew it would put my baby in danger...I wouldn't ever consider using it.

 

[jenmcn1]

I was going to say- I heard it will give you the runs but it might be worth it in your case. Why are they making you have a c-sec and not just inducing you? I guess I would try everything- sex, walking, birth ball, spicey food, egg plant, sweep.

My baby is measuring a little bit big, and I had issues when I gave birth to my son due to his size.
Inductions generally cause more problems (I was induced with my son) and it was very difficult(caused shoulder dystocia among other things)...so thats why they want to do csec. But I'm not willing to go there yet. I want to go as natural as possible.
So I feel very torn

 

[zenmommy526]

The reason I would avoid it is because there is a chance it can also cause your baby to "use the bathroom" inside you. When the meconium (Baby's first poop) gets inside their amniotic fluid there is a chance they will breathe it in and cause infection in their lungs. I've had two friends very anxious to get their baby out and they tried it, both times their babies had bowel movements while still in utero. I would NEVER try it just cause that sounds awful to me!

 

[jenmcn1]

The reason I would avoid it is because there is a chance it can also cause your baby to "use the bathroom" inside you. When the meconium (Baby's first poop) gets inside their amniotic fluid there is a chance they will breathe it in and cause infection in their lungs. I've had two friends very anxious to get their baby out and they tried it, both times their babies had bowel movements while still in utero. I would NEVER try it just cause that sounds awful to me!

Yeah thats really scary!! SO not worth the risk!!!
I will talk to my dr about it tomorrow - chances are she will tell me not to use it then.

 

[jenmcn1]

I do wonder though - If this is so dangerous for baby, then why do some midwives encourage use of castor oil?
My friend used it to induce labour with all 3 of her kids. Her Midwife was very supportive of her using it?

 

[arj]

I do wonder though - If this is so dangerous for baby, then why do some midwives encourage use of castor oil?
My friend used it to induce labour with all 3 of her kids. Her Midwife was very supportive of her using it?

It depends on who you talk to and what experiences they have had/heard about.
Similar to medical induction, 50% of ladies are anti and have heard awful things, and 50% are fine with it and have had a good labor!

I used castor oil after a sweep, and took the dose my MW recommended, which was 2 TBSP at 3pm and again at 4pm. Then I went for a brisk walk/jog and then after that around 7-11 at night I had diareah on a normal scale, and drank plenty of fluids to keep hydrated. Went to sleep then woke at 1am with a monster contraction, at hospital by 4, had baby by 7 with clear waters!

 

[jenmcn1]

I do wonder though - If this is so dangerous for baby, then why do some midwives encourage use of castor oil?
My friend used it to induce labour with all 3 of her kids. Her Midwife was very supportive of her using it?

It depends on who you talk to and what experiences they have had/heard about.
Similar to medical induction, 50% of ladies are anti and have heard awful things, and 50% are fine with it and have had a good labor!

I used castor oil after a sweep, and took the dose my MW recommended, which was 2 TBSP at 3pm and again at 4pm. Then I went for a brisk walk/jog and then after that around 7-11 at night I had diareah on a normal scale, and drank plenty of fluids to keep hydrated. Went to sleep then woke at 1am with a monster contraction, at hospital by 4, had baby by 7 with clear waters!

Thats a similar experience to what my friend described. Thats why I was so surprised to hear such horrible things about it. Were you overdue when you did this? Im wondering if it will make a big difference in how many weeks you are. Since I am only 38+1?

 

[kissesandhugs]

Gosh so many different opinions on this and unfortunately not enough FACTS. Women are skeptical bc of the risk of meconium but it has never been proven that castrol oil was the reason. Like I'm sure many others will say there's a risk of meconium anyways when u go overdue. And that's when most women resort to it. personally,I don't think I'd do it but would think about it for sure if a c section was possible

 

[albs]

i wouldn't use it unless you're told to by a medical person. i'd be too worried about the baby swallowing meconium and would rather go for a c section, unless my doc/midwife told me to do something different.

 

[arj]

I do wonder though - If this is so dangerous for baby, then why do some midwives encourage use of castor oil?
My friend used it to induce labour with all 3 of her kids. Her Midwife was very supportive of her using it?

It depends on who you talk to and what experiences they have had/heard about.
Similar to medical induction, 50% of ladies are anti and have heard awful things, and 50% are fine with it and have had a good labor!

I used castor oil after a sweep, and took the dose my MW recommended, which was 2 TBSP at 3pm and again at 4pm. Then I went for a brisk walk/jog and then after that around 7-11 at night I had diareah on a normal scale, and drank plenty of fluids to keep hydrated. Went to sleep then woke at 1am with a monster contraction, at hospital by 4, had baby by 7 with clear waters!

Thats a similar experience to what my friend described. Thats why I was so surprised to hear such horrible things about it. Were you overdue when you did this? Im wondering if it will make a big difference in how many weeks you are. Since I am only 38+1?

It all depends how favourable your cervix is. I took it 1st time round at 39 and 40 weeks, had a closed cervix, and it didnt work.
Second time round at my sweep I was already 2-3 cms dilated and had been getting mucus etc the few days leading up, and I was 39+5.

My friend who went a week over due with her 1st, took it with her second at 39 weeks and had her baby a week early and baby was very small and covered in vernix. For her 3rd she didnt take it and again went a week over due.

 

[magicmama]

There should be more research on it ( when to take it, dosing etc..) After all it is an herbal supplement so a medication like any other. I think if your cervix is favorable ie. starting to dilate, soft, and effaced it is going to work better. I have seen where some ladies have drank the whole bottle! Thats crazy! Ina May Gaskins Midwifery book suggests you start with like 2 tblspoons. It did work for me. I was already 4 cm when I took it, I did not have diarreah and baby was born healthy after a quick labor. I did my homework b4 I took it though. I included a link to one of the few actual clinical studies I found. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10631825?dopt=Abstract

 

[daisy_]

I do wonder though - If this is so dangerous for baby, then why do some midwives encourage use of castor oil?
My friend used it to induce labour with all 3 of her kids. Her Midwife was very supportive of her using it?

It depends on who you talk to and what experiences they have had/heard about.
Similar to medical induction, 50% of ladies are anti and have heard awful things, and 50% are fine with it and have had a good labor!

I used castor oil after a sweep, and took the dose my MW recommended, which was 2 TBSP at 3pm and again at 4pm. Then I went for a brisk walk/jog and then after that around 7-11 at night I had diareah on a normal scale, and drank plenty of fluids to keep hydrated. Went to sleep then woke at 1am with a monster contraction, at hospital by 4, had baby by 7 with clear waters!

Thats a similar experience to what my friend described. Thats why I was so surprised to hear such horrible things about it. Were you overdue when you did this? Im wondering if it will make a big difference in how many weeks you are. Since I am only 38+1?

It all depends how favourable your cervix is. I took it 1st time round at 39 and 40 weeks, had a closed cervix, and it didnt work.
Second time round at my sweep I was already 2-3 cms dilated and had been getting mucus etc the few days leading up, and I was 39+5.

My friend who went a week over due with her 1st, took it with her second at 39 weeks and had her baby a week early and baby was very small and covered in vernix. For her 3rd she didnt take it and again went a week over due.

My sister has 4 children and used castor oil on all 4..... similar to Arjs experience - straight forward delivery. She recommends it to me. Find out whether your ready to give birth/dilated and the decision is all yours

xxx

 

[cdj1]

I know it sounds silly, but Ina May mentions it in her book and doesn't think there's anything wrong with taking it. I think the dose recommended is like a tablespoon with orange juice? Let me see if I can find the paragraph where she talks about it -

This is what Ina May Gaskin writes about Castor Oil in her Guide to Childbirth book, beginning p.215:
Midwives sometimes suggest nonpharmacological ways to initiate labor, as several methods are often effective without being invasive or risky.
Castor Oil: Indigenous peoples all over the globe have used castor oil to induce labor for centuries. Taken orally, castor oil acts as a laxative, and the stimulation of the digestive tract often starts labor at term. No one knows why castor oil works to start labor. When there is little or no money to be made as a result of research, generally little or no research is done. Nobody has figured out how to make an appreciable ammount of money from castor oil, so this subject has received virtually no research attention. Nevertheless, castor oil seems to be quite safe. Nearly nine percent of nearly eleven thousand pregnant women in a large birth center study used it to start labor, with no adverse outcomes. [footnote to study] At The Farm Midwifery Center [where Ina May has been delivering babies since the early 1970s], we recommend beginning a castor-oil induction at breakfast after a full night of sleep. One tablespoon of castor oil is added to scrambled eggs or is mixed with fruit juice to make it more palatable for the women. If necessary, she takes one more tablespoon one hour after ingesting the first.

I am thinking about taking some tomorrow if no movement!!

 

[daisy_]

I know it sounds silly, but Ina May mentions it in her book and doesn't think there's anything wrong with taking it. I think the dose recommended is like a tablespoon with orange juice? Let me see if I can find the paragraph where she talks about it -

This is what Ina May Gaskin writes about Castor Oil in her Guide to Childbirth book, beginning p.215:
Midwives sometimes suggest nonpharmacological ways to initiate labor, as several methods are often effective without being invasive or risky.
Castor Oil: Indigenous peoples all over the globe have used castor oil to induce labor for centuries. Taken orally, castor oil acts as a laxative, and the stimulation of the digestive tract often starts labor at term. No one knows why castor oil works to start labor. When there is little or no money to be made as a result of research, generally little or no research is done. Nobody has figured out how to make an appreciable ammount of money from castor oil, so this subject has received virtually no research attention. Nevertheless, castor oil seems to be quite safe. Nearly nine percent of nearly eleven thousand pregnant women in a large birth center study used it to start labor, with no adverse outcomes. [footnote to study] At The Farm Midwifery Center [where Ina May has been delivering babies since the early 1970s], we recommend beginning a castor-oil induction at breakfast after a full night of sleep. One tablespoon of castor oil is added to scrambled eggs or is mixed with fruit juice to make it more palatable for the women. If necessary, she takes one more tablespoon one hour after ingesting the first.

I am thinking about taking some tomorrow if no movement!!

Keep us updated if you plan to do it! I love hearing about castor oil stories xxxx

 

[MrsBandEgglet]

I wouldn't take it myself but I have noticed there are very differing views on it here to in North America\canada. You can't even buy it here over the counter and most mw's will say avoid it. I would speak to your dr, see what s/he says because if you are desperate to avoid a section they may be able to advise you on the best, absolute safest way to take it and perhaps monitor you more. Like I said, nothing would get me to take it but my fear is a c-section so I don't envy you your position on this Good luck, I hope you can get baby moving soon xx

 

[XXKaylaXX1]

My grandmother joked and said 'that ladies selling castor oil, you should go buy some' well I had never heard of castor oil before to induce labor and when she told me, she said it was a waste of time. I guess theres a long line of women in the family, including herself, who have tried it and it never worked... just caused alot of vomitting and dirrhea but no quick improvements. She said thats is not even worth taking because its disgusting like greese = / yuck. Now I don't know how much of that is true... but thats just what I've heard. Honestly, walking has done wonders for me, its caused me to be 4cm dilated and 80% effaced, and all I do is walk 30 mins a day. I was doing squats a little bit ago (Not trying to evict baby, but have exercised through the entire pregnancy) and I guess that has made the baby a little engaged now and doctor thinks labor is going to come sometime this week!