Castor Oil

I am trying to gather information on natural ways to induce labor... What are the benifits and risks of Castor oil;?

[ovaz129]

Not sure that this actually works... I think that it is more of a wives tale.  I have a friend who wanted to give birth naturally (without pain meds) at a birthing center.  She drank castor oil (which ultimately made her stomach upset), and it DID NOT help her go into labor.  I wouldn't induce labor yourself, unless the doctors have told you it is ok.  I wouldn't start messing around with nature if you don't have to

[pinkbelle]

I know that castor oil can give you diarhea (diarrhea) which will dehydrate you very quickly and I have also heard it can make your b/p rise... as for the benefits I have heard of women going in to labor days after taking it.. They also say red raspberry leaf tea helps things along.

[kennedydp5]

what's goin on, linzola?  i know you're extremely anxious to get to that point but i kinda agree w/ ovaz on this one!  are you in a lot of pain or anything that maybe the doctor would help you to induce?  i just want you to be careful and not to cause any stress to your body or the baby.

[Diane1003]

I've heard of a few different folks using caster oil to induce - and it working for them.  Unfortunately I don't know any more about it that the fact that at least three different ladies I know used it successfully to induce their babies...

[Linzola1]

kennedy: I am in a lot of pain, but I just feel there is no end in sight. I know it is any day now, and I would never induce labor in my own.... I am not crazy, but I just wanted to gather some information....

My doctor dosnt really care that I am in pain. The only thing is that he says is "We will have to deliver soon because it is getting hot out there" What does that mean.
I have not had a uncomplicated pregnancy. At 25 weeks I was taken out of work and put on Procardia to stop premature labor.... 2 weeks later that doseage was doubled to 20mg 6x a day... I am ready for him to come but at the same time I am terrified.... Is it normal to be this scared? I am having some contractions and I should probably start timing them.... Just seems like time has flown by.... Thanks ladies...

[kennedydp5]

oh, hun i know you're not crazy!!!  lol  trust me, even thoughts of trying to induce myself have run through my mind before and i know it would make it a potentially dangerous situation if i did it b/c of having to have a c-section again....  its natural to want to do it!  i'm sorry you are in pain...  and i hadn't rememebred about your preterm labor.  if you're having contractions you could very well be in the hospital in the next 24 hrs!!!  :)

and yes, it is completely normal to feel scared!  you're ready, but you're not ready...  but then when you see him that will all go away (and you'll cry) and be completely happy!!!  
seriously, good luck and update us if you're contractions get close together!  :)

[JOLOR]

I've been told Castor Oil is a wives tale!

[Lemenna]

I work in a pharmacy and they DO NOT recommend it at all!  We get pregnant women in there all the time asking for it.  When I was pregnant with my first the nurse told me that the best way to get the baby out is the way it got in there!  Make some love and if you are close enough to being in natural labor the semen and orgasm may cause you to start labor!  Good luck!

[KStarr07]

You know, the whole "nipple stimulation" thing seemed pretty harmless to me.. I've heard otherwise, but that's all I was doing when I went into labor. Not as much or often as they say when you look it up online, though.. Just briefly every night for a few nights and the final night I went into labor. could be purely coincidence though, we'll never know. Lol

[ckpaul]

Castor oil affects the digestive system in hopes of the paristallic wave movements causing contractions.  So, basically the hope is that diahrea (sp?) or vomiting will cause the contractions to kick in.  I too have heard of the raspberry leaf tea being a herbal induction method, but have not used it myself.  I have however used black and blue cohosh.  They worked almost instantly.  Regular strong contractions kicked in within the first minute.  Cohosh is an old herb that was used by the Indians back when to induce labor.  If you look it up online you can find a lot of info about it esp on midwife sites.  Good Luck!

[Diane1003]

I've heard the same as Lemenna - that there's something in semen - a protein or something - in the semen that could make the woman go into labor.  A woman at work said she made love with her DH and went into labor two weeks early the next day with her son!

[laura1985]

i would assume that it isnt safe for you to do. HOWEVER, my sister in law did this in feb when she was due and she went into labor that night. i think she took 2 tablespoons of it. she ended up "messing" on herself a lot during labor.

[Linzola1]

Thanks ladies I have been doing the dirty with my DH everyday and no luck. I do have to say I have had a little progress. Last Tuesday I went to my Obgyn appointment and I was 1 cm dialiated and not effaced... I went yesterday and I was 2 cm dialiated 50% effaced and at a -3 station. I am just really wanting to have him soon...... Thanks for all your advice.....

[angeleyes11601]

okay i kno every one else here has bascically said it is an old wives tale...but let me b the 1st to say...my 1st preg i had to have an emergency c-section..so i and my drs. didnt think id be able to  have and or handle a vag birth...we went to dr and we decided to try a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarian) and wen he checked i was not dialated and was starting to soften...so we went home and i drank some castrol oil...i had another appt 3 days l8r bc of low amnotic fluid and wen he checked i was 2 cm and 50% effaced...so MY idea on castrol oil is it does work...AND I DIDNT GET DIARREAH (diarrhea)