EPO - What does it do? is it worth it?

[Hayley_26]

Ive heard about people taking EPO - i dont know alot about it.

How can you take it? When can you start? And how many a day?

Any info would be great x

 

[liz0012]

I have been taking it since week 35. I was taking 2 1,000mg orally until last night. Now I am taking 2 orally and 1 vaginally. I am puncturing a whole in it with a pin and inserting it as far up as possible. I want this baby out, so I will try anything

 

[Eleanor ace]

My MW said not to start until 37 weeks, just in case it got things going. I waited until 38 weeks as I didn't want LO to arrive until then as a minimum. It's supposed to work by ripening your cervix, similar to the prostaglandin (sp?!) pessaries used in inductions. My MW recommended starting with 1 capsule, increasing to 2 after a week and onto 3 after that. I can't remember what mg's they were though, sorry! It needs time to work, hence use over a period of time and increased dosage.
I inserted 1 internally and took the other 2 orally at first but it made me a bit sore so I just stuck to taking them orally.
I'd ask your MW about it- some ladies aren't supposed to take it, and she should be able to advise you on the dosage and when's best for you to start . Oh and I think it helped me- my labour started naturally when I was sure I'd be induced, and I was 3cm dilated with a nice soft cervix haha at my 40 week check.

 

[Amygdala]

I took it last time but wouldn't again. There's very little research on it but what there is found no positive effect of EPO but possible negative effects, including prolonged labour. Have a look here: https://www.jfponline.com/the-publi...e-labor/63cef59c4aac947dd523b5d442dcaed9.html

 

[steph.]

I took it last time from 35w, 1000mg orally 3x a day. Its meant to help ripen the cervix. She arrived at 37+4 and my labour was super fast and super easy. I went from 3cm to baby in arms in 45mins.

 

[liz0012]

I took it last time from 35w, 1000mg orally 3x a day. Its meant to help ripen the cervix. She arrived at 37+4 and my labour was super fast and super easy. I went from 3cm to baby in arms in 45mins.

Was that your first?

 

[steph.]

Yeah it was my first. When the midwife examined me at 3cm she said my cervix was so thin it was barely there. From 1st contraction it took 3 hours and she came out in two pushes. I took rlt too, think they both helped!

 

[Sini]

I took 2 orally and 1 vaginally from 36 weeks. LO arrived at 37+2 and I dialated in minutes! Could well be a fluke but Id recommend it