Speaking of labor prep...birth prep formulas? (5/6wk Formula, Birth Prep, Gentle Birth, etc) « Back to Group Discussions

[1babysmom]

I have probably made it pretty clear that I love Mountain Meadow Herbs products, and I was *thinking* about ordering their Gentle Birth Formula this time.  HOWEVER...I've never taken anything like this before (I just do individual stuff...lots of RRL tea mostly), and my labors are about like this...I'm always VERY dilated and effaced once I start (5-6cm...actually VERY high overall Bishop scores), contractions are quite manageable, I labor quietly and in control, no bleeding during birth and then once placenta is out I have very minimal bleeding compared to many others, and I've loved each birth experience because they were so awesome.  So I'm not sure if a formula would even change anything for me?  But, I've never gone "on my own" (without castor oil...which has worked great and easily for me without complication, and is not up for discussion ) before 40+ weeks.  And I've read a lot about women gestating LONGER while on birth prep formulas so....yeah, don't really want that. There are some health reasons this time that leave me more uncomfortable with dealing with that than in the past.


The MW I had for prenatals with DD2 (my first UC) recommended a 5W Formula but I never took it for that very reason.

Anybody have experiences to share?

If I order it, I'd probably get the one without RRL...not because I worry about "too much" RRL, but just because I get so much RRL tea that I don't feel I "need" the extra.  And as for the cohosh, I'm not all that concerned about it based on my own research (since there's so much on both sides out there), so I'd probably get the one with it.
Edited by 1babysmom - 2/9/13 at 8:47am

[Cali2SC]

Oh I forgot about 5w formula!  I had a ton of supplements with dd (I had a mw) that I'm not doing this time around (high risk with a ob).  

I did take 5w formula last time.  For what it is worth we went to almost 42 weeks before castor oil worked for us. We weren't 100% about the dates.  Also did a lot of rrl tea.  Labor lasted for 44 hours from water breaking to birth.  Needed to transfer to hospital for pitocin and epi, but that was more because her hand was up by her head and she wasn't making contact with my pelvic floor to really get labor going.  We did try to reposition her for hours before agreeing to transfer.  

So there is one data point for you, but we had a lot of other stuff going on too, so I know it isn't very helpful.     

I need to find my notes from last time and see if there is anything else that I might be missing..... other than my mw.  

[Cali2SC]

Originally Posted by 1babysmom 

 And I've read a lot about women gestating LONGER while on birth prep formulas so....yeah, don't really want that. There are some health reasons this time that leave me more uncomfortable with dealing with that than in the past.

I hadn't heard this before.  If it is a concern, and you have had multiple good experiences without it.... then if it was me, I would probably skip it.  If it isn't broken..... and all that.  But I'm not a dr, mw, or anything like that!