I know I will probably get alot of mixed responses about this. Please only respond if you have personal experience with this. I am almost to my due date....well past full term. I would like to hear from anyone who has personally tried any natural induction methods, especially castor oil. I have resons for wanting my baby now that includes my fear of having to have a c section because my baby is large. Her wieght estimate via a 3D sonogram and measurments are that she is at least a lb. over the average weight. If you have tried csator oil and it worked, or didnt, please let me know. Also, what side effects it had other thanm diarrhea?P Vomitting? Any effects on the baby?
Megan,
I don't know about Castor Oil, but I "walked" my girlfriend and myself into labor. I would just get out and walk 2-3 miles a day, at a slow pace of course and my son was 3 days early and my girlfriend was 4 days early. However, be careful, my daughter was a scheduled c-section and they took her 1 week before my due date, she has had several issues with her lungs and after doing some research this is fairly common. Apparently that last week or so is very crucial for the final stages of lung development.
Good luck!
What is the accuracy rate of 3D ultrasound? Through ultrasound my doctor thought my first daughter was going to be 9 pounds and she turned out to be 7. I was a 10 pounder myself and my mom had me in the hospital through unmedicated vaginal delivery...and that was back in the early 70's. I've heard of people having as large as 11 pound babies vaginally. The key is, you need not to be afraid. If you are calm and visualizing a natural birth, you will have it.
I don't recommend the castor oil. Though I haven't done, I know friends who have and they had an awful experience with their labor. It will cause extremely hard contractions and you might not make it in time to the hospital. Try instead to keep your body well hydrated and relax. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and stop the junk food at this point. If you put quality food into your body instead of high calorie/processed/high fat foods, your baby's weight gain should be minimal.
Think positive. You will have a vaginal delivery.
Megan,
With my 2nd child, I was overdue 9 days. I was miserable, ached, tired, and all around hurt every inch of my body. I questioned every way to go into labor. Sex hurt too much, and I could barely walk. After hearing about the castor oil from person after person, I mentioned it to my doctor. He strongly did not recommend it. There runs a risk of the baby becoming distressed due the dehydration that can be caused by the diarrhea / vomit.
I did not do it. I waited it out in my misery and went into labor on my own the morning they had me scheduled for induction. I understand your fears, however, your babies safety is top priority. I dont mean to sound harsh in that statement, but as a mother whom has had a baby in NICU after delivery for almost 3 weeks, I am very strong on baby safety first.
I hope you consider all aspects before trying anything. Good Luck to you.
~ Amanda
Well Megan,I can not speak for everyone because everyone is different but I must say that I did the Castor Oil thing with no side effects at all for my 1st pregnancy because my little darling was 11 days late. It tastes horrible but it did work. I gave birth and all my appointments where at a Birthing center (God bless them for they are Wonderful!!!) and everything was natural. I was given the Castor Oil at about 6pm and my water broke at 8:50pm. My daughter was born at 10:55pm. So it did something right. for my second baby, also late but this time 10 days late, I was told to put the gel of the inside of some kind of vitamin (sorry but I forgot which one)to help me dialate and bring on contractions. It also helped.I delivered a healthy 8lb 6oz baby. I recommend if you are not going to a Birthing center to just call one up and asked them for advise of what you should do. They believe in the Natural approach and it's alot better both for you and the baby. I think the number is 305-754-BABY but I know the one I went to has a website www.MiamiBirth.com and there you can confirm their number. It's better you call than email them because they are really quite busy.
In any case Megan, I hope that I have been helpful. Good luck with the new addition to the family!
Best of Luck!
LRS
Hey Megan I tried castor oil for my first child and I had no side effects, but it also did not force her out. If you baby is getting to big you should discuss this with you doctor. The doctor thought my second child was getting two big and they induced me 2 weeks early. When he was born they found out he was just very long. But my doctor was ver sympathetic with me about not being comfortable and not wanting a c-section. I could barely walk after I would go in for my check-ups, because even though I was not dialted my son was still pushing to come out. With my last child I was on medicaid so my doctor couldn't induce me unless the baby was in danger, but to help me progress she would strip my membranes every visit, in hopes that it would either cause my water to break or I would start dialating more.
Hi Megan,
My water broke when I was at 39 weeks. I wasn't having any contractions, and by the next morning, the contractions had come, but they weren't very hard. So, my midwife suggested Castor Oil. The first thing I would say is drink it in something- I tried to do it straight the first time and almost gagged. It tastes like, well Oil. I have to say, it didn't really do much for me. I was in labor for a long time, and finally did have to go to the hospital to get Pitocin. After I got an epidural (I didn't really want one, but when you're in a hospital bed on Pit, there aren't too many ways to deal with the pain), then the Castor Oil kicked in. Fun! My daughter was born 2 hours later.
From what I've heard, it just gives you diarrhea. Then, since your bowel is contracting, it's supposed to make your uterus contract too. I've heard many women get diarrhea when they go into labor anyway, so I don't think it's that bad.
I've heard the same thing as an earlier poster about 3D sonograms not necessarily being accurate on weight. And the walking sounds like a great idea. My husband and I did that to try and strenghten my contractions too.
I don't know what my advice would be. Castor Oil didn't necessarily work for me the way I wanted, but it wasn't harmful in any way either (just a bit embarrassing). Just stay positive. Have you talked with your OB (or midwife) about how you don't want a C-Section and are there any things you can try? Are they talking about a C-Section already? There are also some herbal things you can take to help get your body ready for labor. If you call a birthing center they should be able to help. If they can't, let me know, and I'll check and see what they were. Good luck!
Hi! My cousin, who was living with me at the time, tried using castor oil and she regretted it afterward. She ended up in the hospital with severe, unbearable cramps, but she didn't go into labor. They kept her for several hours, but then sent her home. She ended up going into labor a few days later though, not sure if it had anything to do with the oil though, and her baby was perfectly normal. Personally, I wouldn't recommend it! Hope this information helps!! Good luck with your baby! :)
Dear Megan,
Let me first say that I understand. I was very worried about my baby being large and causing an emergency c-section.
But you should know what very large babies are delivered vaginally every single day in the US with no problems at all. You didn't mention the baby's estimated weight or how far along you are, which concerns me. You should know that the most common things that keep babies in the hospital after birth are jaundice and lack of lung development- both things that manifest up until a week before your due date. The lung issue is particularly serious. You should really rely on your physician's judgment as to when that baby should come out, no matter what extra measures you might like to take.
That being said, there are many things you can do to speed things up that have less negative side effects. Nipple stimulation is a good one, having sex, walking reasonable amounts, and having your membranes stripped at your doctor's office are all very effective. Castor oil is not ideal- the diarrhea and dehydration are hard on your body during a long labor.
I hope you will discuss this with your doctor before you do anything.
All the best.
Okay, I know you have gotten a lot of responses, but nobody told you to walk on sand. Go to the beach and walk on sand...it is known to induce labor...it did for my friend.
my friend tried this but it did not help. I don't recall her getting sick from it, but I do know it didn't speed things up.
Good luck to you!
I have heard nothing positive about using the castor oil. Tastes horrible, doesnt work, or had bad side effects, ie. vomitting, diarrhea, etc. and god knows when u are pregnant you do enough of that on your own. LOL. I tried every other method, sex, swimming, baths, being extremely over active, and nothing worked. Finally I talked to my OB, who suggested being medically induced due to the fact that I was trying everything else and sat at 2cm for about 2 1/2 weeks. So I picked the day, when in at 6:30am, started pushing at 2pm and he was born at 5:03p. I would definitely talked to your OB about all options before trying anything on your own first. And I also had the 3D ultrasound done and they were like 2lbs. off what my baby was born at. They had him bigger than what he actually was. So dont take the baby's weight from those to accurrate. Good luck and may you have a happy, healthy, beautiful baby!
Meagan,
My Best friend tried castol oil and it did not work! don't do it it gave her diarrhea and also the baby while in side of her because of that witch the doctors were very concerned when that happened not exactly sure on the details but i know it wasn't a good thing!Good luck and i hope the baby comes soon.
Heather
My midwife told me at 39 weeks that I could do anything to help induce labor if I wanted to (walk, sex, nipple stimulation) and she said if I get desperate that I could do castor oil. I think is was something like 2 oz every 2or4 hours (not sure if that is correct, its been 2 years!!) I couldn't even take the whole first dose it was soooo bad!! I did get some down at like 8pm and by midnight I was in the bathroom with diareah and at 4 am my water broke. We went to the hospital at about 5 and I wasn't really contracting at all so they gave me pitocin and she wasn't born till 10:42pm!! So I'm not really sure if it was worth it!! Although it was not bad be cleaned out and not have to have a bm for awhile after having her!! I don't think the castor oil really makes you contract I just think after you are cleaned out the baby has more room to move down. All in all I don't think it was horrible but not sure it was worth the 18 hour labor!!! Not sure if this helped at all but good luck to you!!
I tried EVERYTHING when I was pregnant, and NOTHING worked!! It was so frustrating! No the castor oil did not work, it did give me diarrhea at 2am though! I know you don't want to heat this b/c I didn't when I was in your position, but the baby will come when shes ready. As far as a c section is concerned, I had to have one (I was in labor for 2 days, and only dialated 3 cm!) it really isn't that bad. I'm actually glad I had one. I know every women wants to have a baby vaginally, but if they say c section, don't sweat it. Now I'll never be late again, I'll be able to schedule when I want my baby born. Good luck!! I hope everything works out for you
Sex, or at least orgasms - have fun :)
I took castor oil and it worked for me. My due date was Aug. 30th. I drank the oil (with OJ) on Aug. 25th and had my daughter on Aug. 26th. My doctor recomended me to take it. She also told me to have sex the same day. Not only did it clean my system out, I didnt have to worry about the possiblity of having a bowl movement during labor. I had no side effects and my baby girl was just fine.
Nothing helps really, when the baby is ready she will come. Talk to your Dr about scrapping your membranes they did that to me and I was a week over due and the next day I was in active labor and then she came!!
Hi megan ...
I tried the castor oil with my daughter and it did begin my labor. :0) Yes , it cleans out your bowels but that's what it does , along with stimulating other things. It had no effect on her and I didn't vomit from that , either. It worked for me !
It will not work unless your body is really ready for labor , though , which it sounds like yours is. Best of luck in whatever you decide. ~ April
I never did try the castor oil because my doctor told me not to. But I tried everything else. My doctor said to have sex, because there's a chemical in the sperm that helps thin the cervix, which will bring on labor. She also said to walk alot. A friend swore by a glass of wine. I was a week overdue and terrified of a c-section. I walked everyday. The day before I had my son I went to the beach and went swimming. I also walked pretty far. That night I also had one glass of wine and sex. I had the baby the next day. My friend is the one who told me to do everything in the same day, she swore it worked for her with both of her pregnancies. It could all be coincidence, but I'll be doing the same thing whenever I have my next one. Good luck!!