blue cohosh - concerns??

[dukeswalker]

My MW has recommended that we consider using blue cohosh as a means of starting labor. (I'm a 2VBAC and hitting 42 weeks - which apparently is making everyone a wee bit nervous) My dh is a pharmacist and went looking for info on blue cohosh and what he found convinced him I absolutely should NOT use it. (apparently it can interfere with fetal/maternal heart rate and blood pressure - and it sites ONE case where a mom using it to induce had her infant die of cardiac arrest immed. after birth )

Has anyone here used it? What was your experience with it? Would you consider it more/less safe than AROM?

Thanks!!

[stafl]

I used homeopathic blue cohosh (caulophyllum) with homeopathic black cohosh (cimicifuga), at half the recommended dosage for each, with no bad effects and it certainly seemed to kick my labor into gear (after a day and a half of "putsy-putsy" rushes with no noticeable cervical change).
I would not recommend using it in any other form, as it is very strong medicine.

[rochellep3]

I feel the same way as Stacy and had a similar experience. I did not use the homeopathic black cohosh though, just the blue. It worked fine and I felt perfectly safe using it.

I would be concerned about the herb, but I would be concerned about being in your position as well! I know that my mw does occasionally use it, but it is not the first thing she turns to (I delivered at 41 w 4 days and she never mentioned it.)

How experienced is your mw with it? This would be a huge factor for me, as I have not read consistent info on dosing, etc. I would only want someone very experienced advising me, watching for symptoms, etc.

My mw is Pam Qualls, btw, I am in AZ also.

Good luck to you! Baby will be here soon s

Rochelle
Mommy to Meg 5/00, Peter 6/02, #3 due 8/04

[pamamidwife]

i have the best experience with homeopathic blue and black cohosh rather than the herbal tinctures, and the homeopathics are very safe.

incidently, the rate of heart problems with babies whose mothers use blue cohosh has been overblown. they had one case and it was never attributed to the herb at all.