Evening Primrose Oil?

[mntnmom]

I'm almost 38wks. With my last babe I *finally* went into labor at 42. I know babies come in their own time, but I have been pregnant most of the last 7 years. The back and hip pain has been getting worse, and the prodomal labor started a week ago. This is the last baby, and I am SO done!
Sorry this turned into a rant. Of course, I don't want to do anything drastic. But I would like to encourage him to come close to his due date. Does anyone have experience with EPO? How did it work out?

[sunflwrmoonbeam]

I used EPO during my labor (at 42 weeks) and it definitely helped. My DD was in a face presentation and I was having very slow progress at home (transferred, necessary c-section), but the point being that I started progressing faster after my midwife used the EPO.

[cheeqz]

I started taking EPO two days (orally) before my due date - I started having contractions the next day. Could have been coincidence.

However, in labor, I was progressing VERY slowly. The midwife did some perineal massage with EPO and in a very short period of time my dilation progressed. So I would at least recommend it in labor, and it can't hurt if you are at your due date.

[MCPM]

My midwife prescribed evening primrose oil the last couple of weeks, vaginally and orally, just to help my cervix ripen - I had a super long first labor. I'd say it helped - didn't start labor up but just made me nice and stretchy and ready to go.

[columbusmomma]

My MW had me take the last few weeks of my pregnancy with DD. I can't really compare it to anything though since that was the first time I used it. It can't hurt!

[Youngfrankenstein]

I used it vaginally and orally w/ my last babe. I don't know if it helped. My midwife had me put 6 softgels in a disposable menstrual cup (Instead cup from walgreens) an take it orally 2 times a day.

[ellairiesmom]

started it orally (1000mg) at 37 weeks & added vaginally at 38 weeks (another 1000mg)

water broke at 39 weeks but labor took 15 hrs to get started. labored 20 more hrs after that BUT one thing OB thought for sure was that the epo made me "soft as butter"...

got my vbac, only pushed for 28 mins & no real tearing...not sure if epo played a role there or not but can't hurt...

[cricketsmomma]

Originally Posted by MCPM

My midwife prescribed evening primrose oil the last couple of weeks, vaginally and orally, just to help my cervix ripen - I had a super long first labor. I'd say it helped - didn't start labor up but just made me nice and stretchy and ready to go.

I had a similar experience. I took it orally for the last month before I was due, and used it vaginally when I remembered - for that, I poked a pinhole in the end of a capsule and squished the oil up in there...

anyway, I think it made a very pliable cervix!

[CookAMH]

I think it helped me. I went into labor at 38w2d with my water breaking in the morning. I did end up with a cesarean for some unnecessary reasons but I would do EPO again. It was my first and I didn't expect to go early considering average first pregnancies are 41w1d.