Castor Oil

Wow you got a lot of mixed responses.
I wouldn't do it.
I would try to squat as much as possible to help get the baby down, and nipple stimulation.
I liked what some one said about enjoying those last few kicks...you quickly miss that "special" bond. What once was "just for you," is now for everyone else...if you know what I mean.

A., I've not used castor oil (I was over due as well) and from what I've read and heard from other moms I would avoid it. The last thing you want is to be very sick and in labor. If you haven't already, try expressing some colustrum. I've heard this can help get labor going. We tried everything as well and nothing worked.

A.~
Poor momma, I understand your impatience, but the reason the things you have tried aren't working is because it simply isn't time yet! :) Trust your body and your baby, they both know what they are doing! Please, from a medical standpoint, don't try castor oil...it will only make you miserable...not to mention that if tea makes you vomit, wait til you taste castor oil! LOL The most natural thing you can to induce labor is exactly how you got baby in there in the first place. Semen contains a chemical that does, scientifically proven, help induce labor. Does that mean it will work for sure? No...but it's fun even if it doesn't. My best advice is to just relax, pamper yourself and rest...give your body exactly what it needs to finish this big job it has been doing. When that baby finally does come, you will be very glad that you took some time for yourself!
~L.

I used castor oil twice in my last pregnancy. The first time (two weeks before I was due) my body was not ready and I just ended up with cramps. The second time (the night before my due date.)I took it at 7 pm, by 3:00 am I was having strong contraction. Waited a a little longer (longer then I should have) then left for the hospital by 5:30am. Arrived at the hospital at 6:00am, delivered my healthy daughter by 6:30 am. i delivered on my due date only a small percentage of women actually do this.

I did learned that no matter what you do to induce labor if your body is not ready, you will not go into labor. Also if you decide to use castor oil, mix it with orange juice and drink it very very fast. I would definitly do it again just wait as close as you can to your due date.

You should consult with your Doctor. Castor oil induces labor by causing your digestive system and bowels so much distress that the spasms may induce labor. I know it is hard to wait, my first (4 now) was over a week late. My second was a scheduled c-section and I could barely stand waiting the 39 1/2 weeks. But the baby comes when it is ready and it is best for you and baby (90% of the time) to go into labor naturally.

Good luck.

Hi A.. It is not worth it, well so says a friend of mine who lived with me while she tried it. She was a day over due and said she would try anything. Well she took a teaspoon full and threw up, and so later she tried it again because it didn't stay down the last time. Well she kept it down but had diarrhea, which can induce labor, and it did but for a shot time she was sent home, sick and having annoying contractions that were not enough to keep her in the hospital. Take it from a mom (me) who was induced with both kids WAIT Your body will go into labor when it's ready. And if it is nessessary to be induced your doctor will do it under supervision. By the way when my friend took the Castor oil and was being sick at the hospital they knew and looked down on it badly and said that it was not good for her to be drinking it. Think about it whatever you eat/drink the baby gets to and if it makes you sick what do you think it's doing to the baby!!
Good luck with labor get some rest now while you can!!!!!
B.

I've used it and it worked with my first pregnancy (I ended up with a C-section due to some other complications though). Start with only 1 Tbsp. and stay close to home! It is a laxative and will make you go. It can rupture your membranes (which it what happended to me) so be prepared for the hospital. Gradually increase the amount if nothing happens. Don't take too much at first. My friend did this and although she did go into labor, it caused hemorroids (sp?). Always check with you doctor first. And, good luck!

I know how the last few weeks of pregnancy drag on and how uncomfortable it can be, but why don't you just wait for nature to do what it is supposed to do? When I was at the end of my first pregnancy my friend reminded me to cherish that time and to marvel at each kick and punch because once you have them, they are out of there for good and you'll never experience that type of symbiotic relationship with the child again.

Hi there, I had my son back on October 2, 2005. I did take castor oil, I believe I took a spoonful. It made me sick to my stomach and I threw up shortly after taking it. I woke up in the middle of that night with contractions. At about 5am we went to the hospital and again I was throwing up, but I did have my son that evening. He was due on October 4th and I wanted to be done being pregnant (I was HUGE), probably a good thing too since he ended up being 9lbs 9oz. I did have a very hard labor and ended up with a c-section, but this was due to my sons position and his size.... not because of the castor oil. It's not a pleasant experience, but I swear that it works! So if you truly are tired of being pregnant or are just ready to meet your little one than it would be an option for you. Good luck to you!

I did take castor oil and it tastes HORRIBLE! But I was 14 days late and I did go into natural labor. There are other ways though and I would only do it if you are really late. Good luck. I can totally empathize!

When I was in labor and "taking my time" the doctor gave me castor oil - all it did for me was keep me from getting any sleep that night in the hospital. I had a C-section the next day, so it did NOT induce labor in any way.

BTW - enjoy your alone time while you have it - you won't have any after your beautiful baby is born!

I would be careful with the castor oil. It makes you go, so it makes your baby go, you don't want your baby to have a BM in utero. I would try other things before trying the castor oil.

My recommendations: walking as much as possible, having lots of sex, and if you want, nipple stimulation (but this is controversial too).

DON'T TRY IT!!!!! Your baby will come when he/she is totally ready to come, just try to take your mind off of going into labor by spending time with your Husband enjoying your relationship and building it up for all the time you won't have after the baby arrives. I know that is hard to hear but believe me it will be well worth it. Also don't try to push your child to grow up quickly, it will happen way TOO FAST as it is. That is a problem we all do as 1st time Mom's. Take it from me ENJOY, LOVE and BE CONTENT with the time everything takes normally. Life goes way too fast, Like they say "DON'T BLINK", cause it will be gone before you know it. Bless you and your Husband with the miracle you are about to bring into your lifes. Just slow down and take it all in. Good Luck. Yes, I did try the castor oil, it didn't work, and tasted terrible, I got sick with it. Not worth it at all.

I would not recomend any of the "myths" Enjoy your time, rest alot because before you know it you'll be awake more than you sleep. Also you dont want to "jump the gun" with out giving your body all the time it needs to dialate and get in the right position being induced in my opinion makes you body go through things way to fast, and rushing labor will do the same. Your day will come..for now just rest. Best of luck!!

I would NOT RECOMMEND castor oil. Vomitting is not good for you or the baby. It causes dehydration. I know "waiting" those last few weeks/days can be hard. I myself was willing to try anything, but my daughter came when she was ready. 6 days before her EDD. Your body knows when it has cooked the baby long enough, and mother nature will kick in. Plus, EDD are not always 100% accurate and the doctor could have miscalculated your DD. The longer you stay pregnant, the better for your baby. If 40 weeks comes and goes, and unless something is psychically wrong [ high BP, or lack of amiontic fluid] I would not rush it. Do not let the doctor con ya into induction either. Trust your body.

Don't torture yourself. Babies come when they are ready and if not the doctor will get your labor going. In my experience the moment you give up trying to get labor going or hope it waits until after you have something important to do- it happens. Take the last few days you have and get some sleep since you wont remember what a good nights sleep is like soon enough.

I haven't tried it but my mother-in-law tried it when she had her 5th child and never did it again with any of the others. She said that it made the labor very painful for her, worse than the others. She never used any pain medication though for the labor so if you do try it, it's manageable. I think she just took a Tablespoonful.

My suggestion would be to wait and let your body do its magic. If you are seriously overdue, then your doctor will most likely suggest inducing labor. I induced with my first child and everything was fine. I did not use any pain medication with either of my children, which is weird for me as I am the biggest baby ever! I would just keep walking and your baby will come when he/she is ready. Your body may just not be fully ready yet.

Good luck with the delivery and congratulations!! Good bless!

Hi A.,

YES I sure did drink Castor Oil. Plan on staying home and close to the bathroom and ready to head to the hospital provided it works for you as well..My Dr said if I was going to drink it take the whole bottle...I chilled it and mixed it with a little bit of root beer...and quickly slammed it as if it was a shot. It really did not taste that bad...and felt like liquid vasoline going dowm.

GOOD LUCK...yet don't try this until after 37 weeks and check with her/him to get their okay.

Hi, please do not try this. My best friend took only a spoonful and she had such bad diahrea and vomiting that she had to be hospitalized. When the time finally did come to push she was so tired she couldn't and had have to have a c-section which she had complications with as well.

Now I'm not saying any of this will happen to you but nature really does know what it's doing so unless your doctor says the baby needs to come try to be patient. I was induced with all 3 of my babies and I still wish I had the experience of going into labor naturally. And there is also the fact that babies and cold weather don't go easily together so I'd want to be as close to spring as possible.

I hope you can enjoy the last of your pregnancy and I wish you a short uncomplicated delivery and a healthy baby.
Goodluck
K.

I personally didn't try it, but a friend of mine did and she really regrets it. She said that it made her go into labor, but not full labor. She ended up having to be induced and had a horrible labor. She doesn't recommend doing it.
Your baby will come when he/she's ready, I know you're probably hearing that a lot and that's not what you want to hear. I know my last few weeks were horrible, so I can imagine what you're going through. Just relax and enjoy the time you have left. Good luck!

I remeber considering castor oil. I was 8 1/2 monthes pregnant and we had just been told that my baby would be close to ten pounds when she was born. For this reason, I would have to have a c-section. I went home and began looking up natural ways to induce labor. I did the nipple stimulations and they worked. I was having contractions but they weren't regular. They were, however, strong. We also tried sex. Once again, painful contractions, but not regular. Then I began researching castor oil. By the time I finished I was so scared. Not only does it cause the mommy to poop (because it is a laxative), it can cause the baby to poop too! If the baby isn't born soon after the meconium is released in the placenta, it can poison the baby. Also, the castor oil can make you have extra painful contractions, but its not guaranteed to work. In fact, nothing will work unless the baby is ready to come. Moral of the story, the baby will come when they are ready. Rushing them can cause more trouble than neccessary. Good luck and congrats! Take plenty of pictures you'll look at them many times in the first year becuase they grow so fast.

Hi A.,

If you like White Castle Burgers, try them because they work!!!!! Give it a day or two and you'll be in labor.

Mother of three!!!

Well, it can give you MAJOR diarrhea which isn't so fun! Personally, I wouldn't recommend it. :) The baby will come at the right time (I know that's not a comforting thing to hear right now!!).

A baby will come whrn its time - rushing it can only lead to problems. The baby knows whenit is ready to come out. What are a few days to wait for a healthly baby. Be patient - it is a skill you will only need more as a parent.

PS - congratulations and enjoy your last few days of quiet.

Hi A.! I tried Castor Oil. I took I think 2 tbsp of it, and it was the nastiest thing in the world! I was dialated to 4 for 4 weeks, and by week 2 I was ready to be done, so I did the Castor oil. It didn't work to make the contractions any stronger, and all it did was work as a natural laxative. Also, if you decide to take it, make sure you have something to chase it with, something that you have a lot of because it is really gross. I do regret taking it, because now the smell of most oils makes me sick to my stomach. And as I said before, no side effects short of the natural laxative. And expect it within an hour or 2 of taking it, also.

i would not do it. i was a week overdue and thought about it. the dr told me it can also cause the baby to 'poop' inside of you then there is a chance he/she would swallow it causing major complications for the baby. definately not worth it!!!