Would you try castor oil?

[Mama2Kayla]

For mama's who took it to induce labor, when did you do it?
I am 40 weeks + 2days today. Carried both of my other kids to 42 weeks.
This time however, I am feeling way less patient

At my appointment yesterday, I was 50% effaced, 1-2 cm, and the baby was at a -2 station. My midwife didn't strip my membranes, but kind of "shook things up a bit". That did absolutely nothing for me but give me a few cramps, no bleeding or plug loss.

Given the current situation...what, if any effect would castor oil have. Has anyone taken it in my current situation and effectivly started labor?

TIA

[nova22]

No, no, no, a thousand times no! I have heard too many horror stories about massive stomach (not uterine) cramps during labor, diarrhea during labor, incredibly painful contractions, etc. I'm sure some people have had success with it but most of the firsthand stories I've heard sounded terrible.

Swiss Kriss, on the other hand, is a very gentle herbal laxative that I have taken before and I'd do it again. I took it at my MW's recommendation because there was a very slow leak of amniotic fluid starting on Monday but aside from a few sporadic contractions, nothing had happened by Wednesday. I think the recommended dosage is two tablets but she told me to take ten. After freaking out about taking so much of a laxative I finally did it and went into active labor two hours later with no unfortunate side effects. I bought it at a health food store after checking every grocer and pharmacy in town.

[WifeofAnt]

If I was being pressured into an induction after 41 weeks, maybe but not before then. The side effects don't seem that pleasant, lol.

[WithoutWax]

Everyone i know that has tried it did not work and only gave stomach cramping not matter the dosage, and they were past their due date. it's just some kind of modern age ritual that helps the mind more than anything- it's like you "try" this or that to ease the discomfort in the mind... but sometimes people just need that. Labor starting is like asking, how does a flower bloom?

[St. Margaret]

I haven't read all up on it, but from what I've heard, I'd never do it unless I was getting REALLY desperate, like having tried EVERYTHING else (RRL tea super steeped and lots of it, acupuncture, chiro, hypno tracks, EPO vaginally and orally, etc etc). I'd have to be actually past due and getting bad pressure to induce I think... I might try it then, thinking the discomfort for me would be better overall than a medical induction, for me and baby... but no way to just get things going.

[~Demeter~]

I've been told to try that 4 times now... (all of my babes were stubborn 'past' dates) and all 4 times the idea of pooping my brains out while in labor prevents me from even considering it. I've been told that I'm apparently not all that desperate then... well... yep I was but I preferred natural induction methods to that one. Walking, nipple stim, bouncing, sex.... all seemed preferable and nowhere near as uncomfortable. So.. to answer the question directly, no. Not a chance.

[mojobot2000]

I've never heard a single castor oil success story, and tons of horror stories. If it was my last chance to avoid a scheduled c-section, maybe. Big maybe.

[3 little birds]

I did it with my first HBAC at 41 weeks 5 days because on 42 weeks I would be required to go to the hospital. I drank 2 ounces, went to sleep for a couple of hours and woke up with terrible cramping. Continuous diarrhea and crazy intense labor. I was checked at 2 cm, one hour later he was born. It was insane, I think it affected the baby-when my water broke it wasn't entirely clear and he passed all of his meconium the next day in one movement.

For the next HBAC I had acupuncture at around 41 weeks and went into labor the next day very gently. My water broke at 6am, he was born at 2p.m. and it was the labor I handled the best (next birth I just let it happen naturally, it was good, just longer).

I don't recommend castor oil.

[Aliy]

I was a success story... just one tsp in a bottle of orange juice. My water broke 3 or hour hurs later and labor started right away.... not pooping no grossness.

it worked for me

[WifeofAnt]

I've also heard of rubbing it on the skin instead of injesting it but I'm not sure if that would work the same way.

[MamaFern]

it worked for me..

i was 41 and 5 and really wanting to get baby out.. i took it once and it did nothing and a few days later again and within a few hours i was in labor, 4 hours baby was boen at home (10lb5oz) and totally healthy. No Mec or anything. that was day 42+1.

[hannybanany]

No.

I did it twice with my DD2. I was facing a c section at 42 weeks, so at 41 I started trying castor oil. It didn't work. Neither did anything else - only time

[EnchantedMamma]

My midwife said that horrific cramps were often caused when people took too big a dose.

If you are almost ready then it shouldn't take much. She recommended I try a small dose (1Tb, I think...? Ask your midwife or google). If that didn't work she said to wait a few hours and try one more time. If that didn't work I should probably let it rest.

So I did. Mixed it in mint ice cream. Nothing happened the first time. Second dose went down. Went to bed. Woke with mild/moderate intestinal cramps (honestly, at that point who cares if you have mild cramps? ).

Had the baby at 10:51 the following morning. The initial stages of labor were perfectly normal and manageable. I think the castor oil had worn off by then.

I was right at 40 weeks, a wee bit dilated, and had had my membranes stripped once, with no resulting labor. Was also taking EPO and walking a LOT.