1 day left! natural induction?

[mamasboys4me]

okay, I'm SOOO suprised I'm still here!! I just *knew* 2, well almost 3 weeks ago it was IT. I was cramping, and found out I was dilated to a 1. I was cramping last Monday night and found out I was dilated to a 2-3. Well here I am and STILL no baby! Due date is Saturday the 6th. My doctor will not be in town this weekend . She also doesn't want to go over 41 weeks b/c I'm measuring really big. I do have big babies, and well, I'm a little : at the thought of a 10 lber (I'll be honest, lol)

I'm ready, yet I'm not ready. I guess I'm ready as I'm going to be. We've had sex the past two nights, I have walked and done some nipple stimulation. The doctor mentioned about stripping my membranes, BUT I recently read that stripping for GBS mothers is not a good thing. I just really don't want any intervention (medical wise), and I'm nervous as to what this gal will suggest if I go to 41 weeks

I'm seriously thinking of taking a bit of castor oil. Yet I feel guilty and unprepared about it. What exactly does it do?

Sigh, lol

[TalkToMeNow]

I've never taken it, but I've heard good and bad things. Check out this link http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/natinduc.html it has a long section on castor oil. Good luck with whatever you do!

[Seeking Refuge]

So here is the scoop I get from my midwife on castor oil. Basically the theory behind it is that it makes you throw up and have diahhrea and these things will sometimes trigger labor.
She says it makes you ghastly ill, that's why she doesn't recommend it.

I am thinking that it can't make me feel much worse than I already do but the fear of that has kept me away from it.

[BabyOsMommy]

I don't have any advice for you regarding castor oil. s

If it makes you feel any better, my ds#1 was 10lb 10oz and I'm really scared at how big this one will be... every day he's in there he gets bigger, so I know how you're feeling about thinking about getting baby out soon. My mw's are all nonchalant about it though, cause I got that big of a baby out, so this one will be okay too. Still scary to think about 11+lbs though...

[mamasboys4me]

well, that does make me feel a bit better. lol I am scared!

I really feel conflicted, and probably won't take any. I would like to know he came when he was ready. However, if it comes to pitocin and castor oil, I'll do the castor oil!

Originally Posted by BabyOsMommy

I don't have any advice for you regarding castor oil. s

If it makes you feel any better, my ds#1 was 10lb 10oz and I'm really scared at how big this one will be... every day he's in there he gets bigger, so I know how you're feeling about thinking about getting baby out soon. My mw's are all nonchalant about it though, cause I got that big of a baby out, so this one will be okay too. Still scary to think about 11+lbs though...

[HelloKitty]

OK so I had to share - I have a friend that was desperate to go into labor and took castor oil, the only thing it did was make her HORRIBLY sick for two days. She didn't actually deliver until 2 weeks later. I know it's only one person but... she is soooooo anti-castor oil now it's not even funny. Just thought I'd share the experience.

Have you tried red rasberry tea? I've heard this can stimulate labor and sounds a whole lot tastier!

[sewingbarbj]

Why not try Oil of Primrose gel caps . My midewife said to try it , inserted against the cervix before bed, I went into labour by 3 am! It sure worked for me!
Good luck, and I feel for you on the big babies, my first was 10 lbs and my second was 9 lbs.

[Seeking Refuge]

Stacy,

I completely agree with you on the pitocin thing. I would take castor oil anyday over that.

[HelloKitty]

OK so I had to share - I have a friend that was desperate to go into labor and took castor oil, the only thing it did was make her HORRIBLY sick for two days. She didn't actually deliver until 2 weeks later. I know it's only one person but... she is soooooo anti-castor oil now it's not even funny. Just thought I'd share the experience.

Have you tried red rasberry tea? I've heard this can stimulate labor and sounds a whole lot tastier!

[mamabeca]

I took castor oil for my first. I was 12 days over, heading into day 13, and my mw was gunna induce with pitocin on day 14. PANIC! I took one TBS in a glass (ok, a shot) of OJ once an hour every hour for 3 hours (It tastes pretty awful) (11pm, 12am and 1am in my case). At 2am I started contractions (very normal ones, as I understand it - they got harder and longer over time). I sat on the toilet with diahrea for about 4-5 hours on and off (I can't really remember...it got less urgent over time. No vomiting at all. It was not very comfortable, but on the flip side, once it was over I was totally empty and it felt good. According the the MW that sitting position was good for me to be in. I was 8.5 cm by 7am. She was ready, if posterior, which made for a very difficult transition labor (8.5-10cm), but she came out ripe and healthy. I wouldn't recommend this to everyone, but if you're facing a hospital intervention, especially one that might cause harm to your baby (ie: GBS+ membrane stripping is definately not a cool thing), I'd say this is WAY less invasive. You can also take a little to start, say one TBS, and if it doesn't kick start things, take a higher am't later. Remember a few things:

1. Castor will also induce your baby to poop, so be prepared for meconium in the amniotic water and prepare your birth attendents that this should happen and will not necessarily indicate "baby stress".

2. You will have tummy cramps in addition to contractions for a few hours (it shouldn't last longer than 2-4 hrs., depending on how much you take)

3. You may want more privacy in the bathroom, which could feel isolating to birth partners. Let them know what you are doing so that they don't feel "left out".

4. Take hot baths/showers to move labor along, Castor oil may start things off, but your body has to do the rest.

5. You can also add things like cohosh tea (blue and black), sex, nipple stim (which will NOT start labor, but does give your body a little jolt of oxytocin, which it also gets in semen and from pitocin), movement/pelvic rocking (DANCE GIRL!). I also did a little candle lighting ceremony, spoke to the baby and told her that it was her birthday, she needed to come out so we could celebrate together, etc.

And think happy thoughts!!! I wish you all the luck in the universe and hope you have an amazing birth journey...already you are taking a little control back from the powers that "be" and that is a strong journey step. Andy.

[rainbowmoon]

I know it's hard to wait but personally I would wait it out until baby is ready. you are not going to grow a baby *too big* for you to deliver. you CAN do this!!!!

btw I was gbs+ and had my membranes stripped (against my wishes by my former mw : ) at 40 weeks and my water broke within hours. just beware if you do it and your water breaks you may be working on thier clock as to when baby needs to come out.

eta- I measured really big (I'm talking 5 weeks ahead) all througout my pg and ds was only 9lb 5oz

[tuffykenwell]

Have you considered Acupuncture? I decided to wait until my due date to try for the first time (which is Monday). I have read some really encouraging things about it and at least once the treatment is done I can go about my business rather than being strapped down...plus if it doesn't work it just doesn't work rather than heading me down the path towards a repeat c KWIM?

I went 2 weeks overdue with Rhys and I am getting stressed out thinking about going post dates again. I know it is totally normal but I am vbacing and Rhys was very big (9 pounds 11 ounces) so the longer I go the more likely that the mw's will start to get antsy and I just don't want to deal with it <sigh...I am such a wuss I guess!>

Good luck and sending you labour vibes!!

Steph

[Britishmum]

I second the idea of accupuncture - I had it to get my first labour started and it worked, right there and then.

I couldnt get the nerve to do the castor oil - I bought some, but went for the accupuncture instead.

As for size, I wouldnt let them panic you. Dd#1 was 9lb, and my OB gave me all the stuff about going overdue, big babies blah blah. Dd#2 was 10lb 4oz, and the delivery was so much easier - the size really was no big deal. This baby's dates are very unsure but my midwife is totally unconcerned. I spoke with her about size this week at my appt, and she said it was likely to be bigger than either of the others, but that there is no problem with that, my body can do it.

I really think the size thing is a non-issue, used as an excuse by so many doctors to intervene unnecessarily. I couldnt tell the difference between pushing out a 9lber and a 10lber, and I dont anticipate it being any different if this one is even bigger.

I really think that it's more likely to be difficult if you are induced and yoru birth is managed, than if you trust your body and let it labour naturally.

HTH

[pamamidwife]

I will say that once your baby hits 40 weeks, they do not gain weight at the same rate that they do in that last month. So, really, you're looking at maybe 2-6 oz more on your baby if you wait until he/she is ready.

I just believe that you're being set up by a fearful and controlling provider to do what they want you to do.

By all means, keep her fingers out of your vagina. No more vaginal exams. It's irrelevant.

Try the castor oil. It's not horrible and it may work. I suggest it after a full nights sleep and a big breakfast. NOT at night.

Don't let yourself be pressured into pushing your baby out before he/she is ready. Your body is wise and the whole induction crisis is becoming crazy. The odds are with you that you will birth before the end of 42 weeks.

Is your baby in a good position? Sometimes posterior babies can cause stop and start labors and also babies to go "overdue". It might be worth looking into - http://www.spinningbabies.com

Ultimately, it's your decision.