Castor Oil

[cm12440]

Ive got just under 4 weeks to go and ive heard of castor oil im really egery to try it will it work?

[vacuumprincess]

if you want to be crapping all over the place.  do you really want to be in laqbor like that???  think about it.  seriously gross.

[stay717]

I heard the same thing and I tried it when I was pregnant with my daughter. ( I was already late and hating life) I mixed it with orange juice to kill that HORRIBLE test.  NO...it did NOTHING!! Well, i do believe I sh-t my pants for 2 days, but I didn not go into labor. I was jumping up and down, drinking raspberry tea, pinching my nippes...you name it, I tried it. Turned out I was just late and everything I tried made me more miserable!!!  I decided to convince myself that I just had a kickA$$ uterus and she didnt want to come out.  LOL....I ended up goign 14 days....exactly late with her.  (Military doc and she was my first, so they wouldnt induce me just b/c I was begging)

Good Luck!!!!!

[pertykitty]

I  wish i could have gone that long!!  i was lucky with my preemies, but not everyone is.  sure you hurt, are uncomfortable, anxious to meet your little one but baby isnt ready yet.  just try to stay comfortable and remember that you cant rush perfection!

[Whereto]

I'm completely with adgal on this. Let nature take it's course. If you get to withing a few days of your due date then think about things like the tea - natural with no side effects that are going to interfere with your labor. Hindsight will tell you later the few weeks weren't that bad. Use the time to relax and treat yourself and stay positive! The night before I went into labour with my first I had the most massive meal and dessert and came to the conclusion that I left him no room so it was out he had to come!! Seriously though keep a positive outlook no matter how uncomfortable or tired you are. Make the most of the people around you to make your life easier and before you know it the day will arrive.Use this time wisely to prepare for the impending birth. Just remind me of this when it's my turn again :-)

[adgal]

trying took the words out of my mouth.  A baby is not even considered full term until 37 weeks, and honestly, I know your anxious, but perhaps just wait a bit longer.  4 weeks until your due date is not so long and it is better for the baby.

As for castor oil...I didn't use it, but when my baby was born he had aspirated meconium and had to be suctioned right away.  It was scary.  If castor oil can cause that I most definatley would not be giving it a try.  It will happen on it's own soon enough.

[trying43]

If you want to get violently ill try it lol.....try red rasberry leaf tea instead, no side effects and tastes good too, drink 3-6 times daily.  However if you have 4 more weeks to go, you really shouldnt be trying to go into labor, still a little early for baby.  Good luck to you.

[AnnieBrooke]

About castor oil -- it is also said to be dangerous to the baby.  The mom gets the runs and the baby does too, and the meconium goes out into the amniotic fluid (which the baby breathes in).  This can give the baby a bad form of pneumonia.  

There is no guarantee it will do what you want, and it's risky.  Talk to your doctor if you really insist on trying it.

[beanie485]

walk alot

[kmz89]

Castor oil can work, but it doesn't work with every woman.
You must take the correct amount and expect to have severe diarrhoea.

I'm not entirely sure how it works but the theory is that the oil stimulates the intestines and bowels to spasm, and this in turn causes the uterus to spasm and sometimes labour will be started from this.  Another theory is that the laxative effect of the oil causes hormones to be released by the mother, having an effect similar to being induced in hospital.  The last theory is that the diarrhoea caused by the castor oil makes the mum dehydrated, and often dehydration will cause the onset of labour.

If you do try it, it's said to be easier to take the oil with orange juice and remember to drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated.

Good luck xx