castrol oil? - Page 2

[KaliShanti]

I hate to say this but I had real strong 2-5 min apart contractions for hours after taking castor oil and it still did not progress. When your baby is ready, it'll happen.

[mcgee]

I haven't read the other replies, but I'd be hesitant to try castor oil. I did it, and I don't recommend it.

I was 3.5cm, 80% effaced and had been for weeks, MP had been out for weeks. I was desperate to get my very large baby out, so I decided to try it, with the midwife's blessing. She recommended pouring 1 4oz bottle of castor oil into a blender and blending it with an equal amount of orange juice to make it easier to drink. She said to do it first thing in the morning so I wouldn't be up all night with diarrhea.

I took it around 8 am, and within two hours had the worst diarrhea ever. After a while just liquid was coming out of me, and my rear end was raw. I was using baby wipes to wipe myself each time I used the bathroom, and even that hurt. It took hours for the castor oil to work its way through me, and I had nasty oil-tasting burps the whole time too. I was absolutely miserable.

That said... I went into labor at some point that night while I was sleeping. I woke up at 2 am with intense contractions, and my water broke a few minutes later. DS was born just before 5 am, so less than 24 hours after taking the castor oil. Did the castor oil cause labor? I have no clue. But, as my midwife said, "Well, you were all cleaned out and didn't poop in the tub..."

[shakenbake]

hehe well heres the update i had some good strong contractions till about 4am and some pooping but ya ive had dirrahia for a while! no baby yet but my out look on it is any contraction now is one less wduring labor im hopeing the helped ripen my cer =-)

[mommy2two babes]

I tried it with my DD and later read something about it making the baby poop in utero. I wondered if this was why my DD had mec staining.

[shakenbake]

i hear that isnt true i looked up Everything LOL my DS has merc in his water 8 years ago and i had no castrol oil that time at all!

[EvolvingMama]

I agree that if it's not quite time for your particular baby to come, any method can just be a frustrating cause of pain, discomfort, and contractions that don't lead to labor. I guess it can make you feel like you're taking some action to get things going, and I relate! I have tried castor oil and EPO both, hoping to amplify my BH contractions into real labor before my scheduled c-section (my hospital is 2 hours away but my doctor said if I showed up near transition there's no way the hospital/insurance company could force me to have surgery! He is awesome but it looks like it will be a 3rd section...no midwives within hours of our remote community).

Anyway, I notice that your baby isn't due for almost 2 more weeks, and I have found that when I've taken CO or EPO, or black cohosh for that matter, it's just irritated my uterus and I've had sleepless nights of contractions for no reason.....only to wake in the morning and have to go to work (I'm a teacher), so I didn't serve myself, my family, or anyone else by being in so much pain. On the other hand, when I've just done my usual walking, bike riding, had sex with my fabulous husband, enjoyed my family and appreciated each day, contemplating this little girl coming and wondering about her, I have slept MUCH better and had MUCH MUCH better days and nights! I think in the long run, it's better to be rested than it is to force your body before it's ready for labor, because, as we all know....it's nature!

But maybe your body IS ready! These are just my experiences....good luck! The good news for all of us is that our babies WILL come!

[Beppie]

I'm almost 41 weeks and pretty eager to see this baby face to face (that's an understatement)... HOWEVER, I don't think I would ever try castor oil. I guess I've just heard of one-too-many miserable experiences brought on by it. you mamas who are trying it are brave, IMO!

[mcgee]

Originally Posted by Beppie

I'm almost 41 weeks and pretty eager to see this baby face to face (that's an understatement)... HOWEVER, I don't think I would ever try castor oil. I guess I've just heard of one-too-many miserable experiences brought on by it. you mamas who are trying it are brave, IMO!

Beppie, had I not been having such a BIG baby, I probably would have just waited it out. DS was born 2 days BEFORE my due date, and he weighed 11 pounds, 6 ounces. The midwife thought he'd be about 10 - 10.5 pounds based on my growth u/s and my belly size. Knowing what I know now, in terms of his size, I'm glad I tried everything I could to get him out, rather than wait and hope he came before 41 or 42 weeks. It was misery, but he's here, and he came out under 12 pounds.

[Youngfrankenstein]

Originally Posted by mcgee

Beppie, had I not been having such a BIG baby, I probably would have just waited it out. DS was born 2 days BEFORE my due date, and he weighed 11 pounds, 6 ounces.

.

It's so true that we all have specific circumstances we are dealing with. I am not "sick of being pregnant" but I have always delivered at 38-39 weeks and had a son who was 9# 15 oz....I am 38 weeks now and my midwife and I discussed low-intervention ways of encouraging things if they are ready. She couldn't do a stretch and sweep so I am doing the black/blue cohosh for 3 days. Then I'll wait again before doing anything else.

She says the "little things" like sex, sweep and stretch, cohosh, nipple stimulation, etc won't bring on a labor that's not ready but it might nudge.

Doing Pitocin, castor oil, or breaking waters are sometimes "forcing".

I'm just saying the OP is doing what she feels is best and it's hard to judge from the outside if it is "too much" for another person.

[shakenbake]

well i didnt take it to go into ful blwon labor as my OB told me if you are not ready it will just help things along not wow drink this baby comes!
but i CAN tell you last night when i check my cer it was cone shaped and i could budge it at all no dilation today in the bath i am 2 finger tips dilaited i can FEEL the babys head omg!!

[tuffykenwell]

I did castor oil with both of my girls and it worked both times (though for me it appears to work best if done closer to the 41 week mark and I have never tried it before 40 weeks minimum. When I take it I blend vanilla icecream and orange juice with a full bottle of castor oil. Don't skimp on the icecream and blend blend blend. You end up with an oily milkshake which takes oily but because the castor oil is emulsified it is way easier to drink (I do drink it with a straw and don't breathe through my nose while drinking it but it tastes like an oily creamsicle truth be told.

With Niamh I took it 3 times in total starting at 40 weeks...had 3 days of prodromal labour which ended at 40 weeks and 5 days and ended up taking a 20 hour break when labour petered out. Took castor oil at around 7pm on Monday at 41 weeks and she was born before midnight.

With Isla I wised up and worked with my body better and didn't even attempt it until 40 weeks and 5 days...she was born 5 hours later.

My main reason for using castor oil is to avoid the cascading hospital interventions which begin looming for me after 41 weeks due to my vbac status (which is still true even with 2 successful vbacs under my belt). I am planning to take castor oil on November 16th this time...40 weeks and 4 days (in the evening since I am aiming for a November 17th bday for various reasons LOL...wish me luck).

Steph