For those considering castor oil..

[mizlizzy]

I'm 41 weeks today, and I'm feeling really ready, very regular cntx last evening. I am considering beginning castor oil induction tonight. For everyone else in the same boat, here are two studies I found that were very interesting:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...gdbfrom=pubmed

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez

To sum up these abstracts in case links are bad:

One was done in Iran in 2004, one in Brooklyn in 2002. In both the women were at 40 to 42 weeks, and also in both just over 50% of the women who took castor oil went into labour within 24 hours, compared to 4% of the control group.

The dosage in the Brooklyn study was 60 ml (about 2 oz), the dosage was not specified in the other one.

Would love to hear from others who have used castor oil, or are beginning induction with it now.

Cheers, Lizzy

[LionTigerBear]

What I have heard is that castor oil usually works as an induction method, however it can cause a more uncomfortable experience during labor due to causing cramps/diarrhea and with that sometimes dehydration as well. There is a slightly higher incidence of meconium, I believe. Anyway, having had nausea/vomitting/dehydration during labor, I would NEVER want to go there again if I can help it-- I personally think I would rather go the pitocin route than castor oil. I don't know, tough decision.

[happyCOmama]

I used 2 oz in OJ to get labor started with my first. It cured my constipation! And labor began about three hours later. I didn't find it awful or painful and it was surely better than the alternatives I was facing (transfer of care to an OB and a hospital induction).

Labor was quick and easy (though as was my second, which was not induced with c/o).

Good luck!

Adding: I forgot, it was the second time I used c/o that it worked. We had tried the evening before also and nothing happened. I had taken a smaller dose so I don't know if the greater dosage was what worked or if it was just time.

[LionTigerBear]

I would imagine that if you were starting from a place of having constipation it would probably work out much better. Me, I already have the opposite problem so that certainly wouldn't be working in my favor!

[cagnew]

I am faced with induction (pitocin) in a week if I don't deliver, so I will be trying c/o sometime after Wed.. From what I unerstand, the women's cervix has to have thinned out quite a bit for the c/o to work. I'll find out at my appt on Wed what is going on with the cervix. If it's thinned out enough, I'll do the c/o Thursday 4am. If not, I'll wait until Sat. night and do it.

I do not want pitocin. I know the chances of ending up with an epidural are very good and I have already gone that route. I really, really want to avoid it if at all possible. It robs you of that precious first hour with your baby... just not the same.

[Nillarilla]

I used it with my ds and went into labour about 12hrs later. I had nausea and diarrhea the next day so I don't know if it was related to the castor oil or not. I tried it yesterday and got a lot of contractions and some loose stools and nausea but everything petered out. Which makes me think I have another week or so to go. I don't know if I'll do it again next weekend. I may wait until the final hour or if there is a need for induction.