Taking EPO this late in the game? « Back to Group Discussions

[tnrose]

Today I am a few days past 40 weeks.  At 34+3, I was 1.5 cm and 70% effaced...36+4, I was 2.5 cm and 70% effaced...at 39+4, I was 3 cm and 90%.

Can EPO affect the actual labor when it begins?  Is there any point starting to take it this far along?  It seems like I have been dilating pretty well with no supplementation, but it can't hurt anything, right?

Edited by tnrose - 11/25/11 at 8:28pm

[Abraisme]

It certainly won't hurt anything and it may help make labor easier.  However, I really don't think it will effect when your labor starts.  I've been taking epo for my whole pregnancy and I'm still pregnant. 

[Jaimee]

EPO is to ripen the cervix so that it can efface and dilate.  You're already effacing and dilating, which means you're already ripe, so no, EPO isn't going to really do anything (not that the literature suggests that it does much anyway).  But also there don't appear to be many side effects either, so if you like to take it, then keep taking it. 

[tnrose]

Jaimee, you say there doesn't appear to be many side effects?  What side effects are there?

[Jaimee]

I read an article about natural induction techniques a while back- efficacy and side effects... I will dig it up again, but the server to the journal library is down right now.