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Category: Labour & Delivery

Asked by lahcjh

Q: Inducing labor using caster oil?...

I've been researching Castor oil for the past 20 minutes. There are many cons and many pros. Many success stories, some not so much. I found it has started labor for %58 pf women. I realize there are dangers to taking it and it makes you crap or barf like no other. So no one needs to tell me about how its dangerous, it makes the baby poop, etc etc because I know all that.

I am 38 weeks and according to the ultrasound my baby is 9 pds, 1 oz. so far.My doctor said I'm dilated to one, and my cervix is thinning big time. I'm READY to have this baby! I have found 50 different theories on naturally getting your labor started, and castor oil seems to be a popular/effective way (though not fun one bit).

Please, just share your stories or knowledge of castor oil. Have you used it? Did it work? Did bad things happen? Any good info or experience is greatly appreciated.

This question was asked Jan. 15, 2012 10:19pm
Category: Labour & Delivery

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Answers (12)

Answered by danni179 - Jan. 16, 2012 8:47pm

i'd be more inclined to do the whole herbal tea/eat pineapple/have sex/eat spicy food. I remember my sister wanted to take caster oil but was worried so he husband took it instead...needless to say he "exploded" and she decided against it !!! :/

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Answered by gemma_1 - Jan. 16, 2012 11:10am

I cleaned the kitchen floor on hands and knees with all my might, had sex and spent most of my spare time on my birth ball. I also drank gallons on rasberry leaf tea and walked as much as i could! I went into labour 4 days b4 my due date. Keep it natural I say as if anything goes wrong due to you taking the castor oil yo couldnt forgive yourself. Its been nearly 9 months, whats another week?

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Answered by a member - Jan. 21, 2012 11:37am

I tried it once and it did zilch, only left a bad taste in my mouth, the better options would be using red raspberry leaf and evening primrose oil.

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Answered by JessicaWall11 - Jan. 16, 2012 1:01am

I would suggest walking and lots of it. If not that get a birthing ball (they are the same thing as the exercise ball) sit on it and roll your hips in a circle. I found bouncing on it was a little more comfortable. Cleaning house (sweeping and mopping) is what got me going. Get on your hands and knees and rock back and forth. Those are the most common inducers. I used them all with my first pregnancy.

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Answered by lahcjh - Jan. 16, 2012 7:55pm

Edit: I am doing VBAC, so If I dont go into labor by myself, I have to get a c section. So its important to me that I do go into labor for sure! I was thinking trying a tiny bit when I reach 39 weeks. So I have a week to let it happen by itself, but then after 39 weeks, I'll be getting really nervous. THATS why I cant just "wait another week" as many of you are saying...

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Answered by TrishG - Jan. 17, 2012 11:29am

Continued.....I don't know if it was the castor oil that made my labor so fast, but it was super scary!! I didn't have any bowel issues.

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Answered by emilyolsen08 - Jan. 16, 2012 12:37am

I have tried it twice and no luck. But think of it this way.. Even if u were to go into labor with castor oil, would you REALLY want to? It helps make you poop. So needless to say, you would be crapping your guts out while you were trying to give birth. I never thought of it that way until my mother brought it up.

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Answered by TrishG - Jan. 17, 2012 11:28am

With my last pregnancy I tried castor oil. I was 38 ...almost 39 weeks. I only took 2 oz. mixed with root beer. I took it around 4pm, then went to bed at 8pm not feeling a thing. When my husband came to bed at 11:30pm he woke me up and asked if I had felt any contractions. I said no. Right after I said that, I had a HUGE contraction and I jumped out of bed and said we need to go to the hospital now!! So we got my son and got in the car....we were supposed to drive to our friends house so they could watch our son. I was getting contractions every 2 min or so. I told my husband to call our friends to meet us at the hospital because I didn't know if I'd make it. We got to the hospital at 11:50pm and I went in the triage area to be checked while my husband waitied in the waiting room with our son for our friends to show up. They checked me and I was 9cm and my water then broke. They rushed me into a labor room and luckily my husband made it in....my daughter was born at 12:19am

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Answered by Mamaof2soon3 - Jan. 16, 2012 3:00pm

I think it can work..but not a good idea..You could have the runs right into delivery! Also, You've waited this long..whats a few more days. My last baby was planned and we knew the due date. So when we were 4 days past it..I was really anxious...but, when my baby was born she was born 6.9lb. When we left the hospital she was 6.2lbs. this is healthy weight but had she come any earlier she would've been under 6lbs by the time we left the hospital..I just think that when they are taking their time...it's because they have some unfinished business before seeing the world. :) Also, I did try walking around for a long while 3 days before she came and my goodness..all it did was make me sore and SOOOO tired. Wasted energy. You want to hold onto that energy for the big moment. Just my opinion. I will add one more thing..the night I went into labor..I had snuck a whole jar of jalapeno peppers into our cheese dipping sauce..for some reason I needed spicey! That stuff kick started it for me. lol

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Answered by Mamaof2soon3 - Jan. 16, 2012 3:08pm

One more thing..my baby was said to be 8lbs..we were not even close to that..sometimes the scans are right on with the weight..and sometimes not. GOOD LUCK!!! I THINK YOU WILL HOLD YOUR BEAUTIFUL BABY VERY SOON HERE!!!!

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