? about castor oil

[RNapmomma]

Couldn't something different be used that wouldn't have a potential effect on the baby---something like Senna or prune juice?

[anothermama]

what are the effects on babe when castor is used?

[pamamidwife]

I think this question has been posed before, and I believe the answer is no. But I don't know why. :LOL How's that for definitive?

Some people say that there is a higher chance of mec with castor oil, but I'm not so sure. I haven't seen that personally (but my sample size is a wee bit tiny). I also don't have issues with meconium by itself....it's when it's accompanied by poor heart tones that I feel some apprehension.

[watermamma]

I tried "other" things that had pretty much the same effect as the castor oil, and also had it pretty much happen naturally as well (cearling of the bowels). Still no labor. The castor oil, however, did do the trick of sending me into labor.

I have always thought there is just something "in" the castor oil (how's that for scientific , it is more than just the effect of clearing the bowels and possible stimulating uterine contractions with the bowel contractions. I know some midwives recomend castor oil rubs on the belly to start contractions as well, so it probably isn't just the "cleaning out" effect of the castor oil that induces labor.

This is not a "vote" for castor oil, as it does have risks to it. I would like to say I would not do it again, but I am also not past 42 weeks right now either (nor am I even pregnant ) or in the post-dates mindset. My 2nd experience with it was just fine, though my first was a little harsh.

[pamamidwife]

is it the prostaglandin precursers that is in it, maybe? ok, I'll do some research. obviously I need to know! :LOL

[lorijds]

We've used castor oil very successfully before, too, and don't notice any increase in incidence of mec.

I don't know exactly why it works, either, but like others here, we haven't seen the same results with other things (like milk of mag).

Lori

[sevenkids]

I haven't noticed a big difference between post-dates mamas helped along with castor oil and mamas who go into labor spontaneously in regards to meconium.
I think post dates has more to due with the increase of mec than the castor oil itself.
The two theories around the castor oil induction is either the intestines become irritable and contract, and the contracting of the intestines rubbing against the uterus causes the uterus to contract, and the other theory is the irritated intestines increase prostoglandin production.

It works, though.

Senna is pretty rough, too. And I'd think prune juice wouldn;t have enough power to stimulate labour.

[Bella'smamma]

My midwife informed me that it increases the production of prostiglandin, which someone else mentioned.

I worked for me. I was a week "overdue" and two hours after I took it, I was in labor. (And I got to drink a yummy milkshake that didn't even tasted like the oil.) I say "overdue" because due dates are really rough estimates anyways. I feel like the oil worked for me but it could have been coincidence. I think it also has to do w/ the persons chemistry. What works for one, doesn't for the other.

I was glad, however, that it cleaned my bowels. It was uncomfortable, but it gave me peace of mind, ya know?

I'm going to try it for this pregnancy. It will be interesting to see the results.

Cecily

[mwherbs]

senna has little to no effect on the uterus. Castor oil is thought to raise certain prostaglandins (PGF2)it is not associated with an increase in mec. One recent study showed that in was effective in starting labor 57.7% over placebo at 2% within 24 hrs.This was used by women 40-42 weeks pregnant. Castor oil having been in recorded use since early Egypt I think it is probably a safer attempt at induction say then pit or misoprostol. Or if you are scheduled for induction with pit then it would probably be a decent prep the night before, would increase your chances of a successful induction. I would also add a note of caution to vbac ladies there is one recent report of uterine rupture associated with castor oil use.

[anothermama]

I can't help but wonder if the mec issue is more to do with babes being genuinely induced EARLY and has anything to do with the actual castor oil.

FWIW, we went castor oil with my son, however my water had broken the day before and I wasn't in labor so it wasn't truly induction of labor......I don't think. But, we did castor oil and also black and blue cohosh tinture and I was in labor in about an hour or so.

[wasabi]

I actually wonder if the anecdotal association with mec and castor oil has more to do with the fact that mec is more common in postdates moms and postdates moms are more likely to try castor oil to avoid chemical induction. Personally it doesn't make sense to me how it would affect the baby. I thought that the reason castor oil has the effects that it does is because our body doesn't process it so it passes straight through. If it doesn't enter my blood stream then how does it get to the baby? FWIW I did have mec with my second without using castor oil and did not have it with my third where I did use castor oil (both big babies born just after their EDDs). I'd definitely use it again if I found myself in the same circumstances.

[mwherbs]

I agree post dates is often when someone tries induction. The mec rates are up irregardless of use of castor oil, it is a sign that the baby has been stressed either in labor or before labor.
as a side note infant mortality at 36 weeks is the same as 42 weeks

[pamamidwife]

Do you think that mec always = stress or do you think that postdates babies (over 42 weeks) naturally could release mec without distress?

[mwherbs]

I think mec = distress , sometimes it is transient/incidental distress, response to labor, a bit of low oxygen, some drugs sometimes it represents compromise over time such as placental insufficiency, intrauterine infection. fresh mec that comes out on the heels of the baby is probably a result of squeezing stimuli.
what do you think?

[pamamidwife]

I'm not sure. I think that it might be more normal for postdates babies to release mec without any placental insufficiency or distress to the oxygen levels. I suppose we may never really know the full picture since so many women are being induced before really being postdates.

That said, I did have a true 44 week preg in my practice and there was no meconium. However, we didn't use castor oil. I have used castor oil in my practice and haven't found mec with any of these labors/births (though I will admit my sample size is pretty small!).

What is your protocol for meconium (min to mod) without fetal distress? (Maybe we should move this? )

[wasabi]

With my second who did have meconium I hadn't been in labor long and had no drugs and yet she did have mec and wasn't truly postdates just a few days past my EDD. I thought sometimes babies just went inside the womb?

[anothermama]

Originally Posted by pamamidwife

Do you think that mec always = stress or do you think that postdates babies (over 42 weeks) naturally could release mec without distress?

Both my babes released a little, I think, but neither midwife was concerned and they both were fine. My daughter was 3 weeks late and my son was only a day or so late.

[anothermama]

Originally Posted by mwherbs

I think mec = distress , sometimes it is transient/incidental distress, response to labor, a bit of low oxygen, some drugs sometimes it represents compromise over time such as placental insufficiency, intrauterine infection. fresh mec that comes out on the heels of the baby is probably a result of squeezing stimuli.
what do you think?

I gotta say, I've always thought that when it wasn't in line with distress, it had to do with the cord being compressed while birth was happening........I never asked, but I always assumed that happened with mine as I have hard and fast labors.

[sevenkids]

Originally Posted by pamamidwife

Do you think that mec always = stress or do you think that postdates babies (over 42 weeks) naturally could release mec without distress?

I think mec will be more likely to be present with a post dates baby for sure. The baby's intestines are going to be full, and it needs to come out. Sometimes we see 41+ week mamas with stained waters, obviously old staining, not fresh. And sometimes little green babies with peely skin:LOL they've obviously been pickling in it for a while.

[Artisan]

Not a midwife, but my second had mild-moderate mec, no distress whatsoever (at least none that was evident) during labor, six days early, no meds during labor, no induction.