For the herb savvy...cohosh question (5W/Gentle Birth Formula)

[DeChRi]

I have never used either of these labor prep tonics, or either cohosh. I am blessed that my babies tend to come on time and my cervix preps itself pretty well.

My cousin (who would post this but is in process of moving and has no internet access) is contemplating using either 5W or Gentle Birth Formula in the 5 weeks before her EDD.

One has blue cohosh and one has black, as well as many herbs that are similar to each other. In my skimming of the sites and old threads, the premise is that there are very low amounts of these herbs in them, so they work as a uterine toner vs contaction stimulator.

I am someone that knows little about the cohoshes and tend to be wary of them. Does anyone know anything about these two products, or what the difference in safety is of the individual cohoshes in very low doses?

Thanks!

[Manessa]

I'm interested in this also, as I've been considering taking the Gentle Birth Formula when I'm 35 weeks. My CNM suggested Dr. Christophers which I think is essentially the same.

[Coco_Hikes]

The pregnancy and herbal books I've been consulting generally advise against using either of the cohoshes before 36 weeks. From The Natural Pregnancy Book (Aviva Romm): "At least one report published in the 1998 issue of the Journal of Pediatrics implicates the late pregnancy use of blue cohosh in the myocardial infarction of a neonate at birth." Black cohosh seems to be better used for easing leg and pelvic pain during labor.

[DeChRi]

Coco- I read the same info. I believe (again, I'm far from expert, just repeating info), that the amount of cohosh in these is a very small fraction of the amount that is normally used for pregnancy related things, thus it has different effect/potential risks than "regular" dosing to induce, etc.