Primrose Oil

[austinsmommi21]

Ok so I have heard about this from alot of people. I was wondering if anyone that is doin this or has done it can tell me how much to use how and when.....and in oil form or gel form

Also any suggestions on using raspberry leaf tea

I am 37wks now and I am gonna try EVERYTHING...walkin, sex, spicy food, the whole shebang

Need all helkp u can give thanks girls

Jamie

[CityGirl]

I'm taking EPO and have been since just before 35 weeks--and before that I was taking a more broad-based essential fatty acid supplement. I bought 500-mg EPO oil capsules and I take, generally, two during the day, at separate times, with meals. Then I insert one vaginally before I go to bed at night. I'm interested in what dosages others are taking as well, since it varies. It has been my experience with friends and doula clients that taking over 2,000 mg a day can lead to nausea and dizziness, but I don't know if that's common.

EPO is a prostaglandin precursor--it stimulates your body to make its own prostaglandins (which is the substance that thins and softens the cervix). Semen contains actual prostaglandins. Neither one of them is likely to send your body into labor unless it is already ready, but they will probably help you get some advance effacing done.

The body makes prostaglandins (series 1, 2, 3) naturally from reactions to what we ingest. So if we take evening primrose oil, which is an omega 6 acid containing gamma linoleic acid, a prostaglandin series 1 precursor, the body then has the essential component to release the prostaglandin on its own. Taking EPO allows the body to modulate the release of prostaglandins-- unlike an artificial induction preparation like prepidil or
cervidil or cytotec which is introduced to the body and is not naturally synthesized.

Edited to add: there is some debate over whether EPO is more effective orally or vaginally. So it covers the bases to take it both ways.

[LoveChild421]

I bought my EPO and RRL tea today- I'm 35 weeks- I want to start them soon enough to get the full effectiveness but I worry about starting them too early since I have been having some intense Braxton-Hicks contractions almost every night and umm...get lots of prostaglandins from my man

Should I wait until 37 weeks just to be safe or should I start now?

[Patchfire]

I decided to wait until 37 weeks to take the EPO. I am drinking *some* RRL tea, but I'm waiting until 37 weeks to do the three cups a day of just RRL. I don't know that it matters, but I know I really want to hit the 37 week mark. :LOL I feel like my body is 'getting ready' already - though I couldn't give you more than one or two specific things that make me think that - so for my own comfort level, I'm waiting. I don't know what the Official Consensus on those things is, though.

[TRIBE]

RRL tea can be drank (drunk?) from the beginning of your pregnanc. No need to wait for 37 weeks on that. I drink 3-5 cups a day, especially if its iced *yum*

The EPO comes in gelcap form. Recommended dose is 1500 mg a day (so 3, 500mg capsules) orally. i dont recommend vaginally because there has been some evidence that it can cause the bag of waters to rupture prematurely. Do wait until 37 weeks to start taking the EPO tho Its generally a good spplement but since it does have prostaglandins its best to hold off on this until you are "full term"

[CityGirl]

Red Raspberry Leaf tea does not have to be drunk only post 37 weeks!!! It is in no way a labor inducer or even a cervical preparer like EPO. It is a uterine tonic, which means it gives your uterus whatever it needs--it will relax it if that's what it needs, it will strengthen it, it will prepare it. It can (and should, IMO) be drunk throughout any normal pregnancy, and before and after pregnancy, as many cups as you want per day.

Jenniebug--EPO does NOT have prostaglandins in it. It's true that the conventional wisdom seems to be to wait until 37 weeks to begin using it vaginally, but I know many many childbirth professionals who take it all the way through pregnancy -- all it is is a beneficial essential fatty acid and is just a dietary supplement. I would agree with not using it vaginally until late third trimester, though. But it is a misconception that gets spread around that it contains prostaglandins. It doesn't.

[CityGirl]

Also wanted to add to LoveChild that if you're having a lot of sex I'd skip the EPO vaginal dose. I am definitely not having "a lot" of sex, but on the occasions I do I skip using the EPO vaginally.

[LoveChild421]

thanks you guys! I'm going to start the RRL tea today (iced sounds soooo good!) and I think I'll start the EPO at 37 weeks just to be on the safe side since I've had some strong contractions already and definately need to make it to 37 weeks- sounds like I don't need it vaginally

I have always LOVED EPO- it's the only thing that has ever kept me from having unbearable menstrual cramps and my mom swears by it for painful breasts.

I read one article about avoiding high doses in the first trimester/ beginning of second because it somehow acts to reduce the amount of amniotic fluid produced? anyone else read about this?

I'm glad you started this thread Jamie- I really love this herb and want to know as much as possible about it!

[Patchfire]

I should have clarified - I am drinking some RRL tea, and some pregnancy tea that has RRL in it... I just haven't been drinking anything that's *only* RRL yet. (My teapot is four cups, so I put in one bag of RRL, two bags of one pregnancy tea, and one of the other... I can't stand the taste of the one pregnancy tea by itself, but the combination is good. )

[TRIBE]

CityGirl--My bad (geez old school slang lol) I didn't actually mean it the way it came out. My preggy brain and fingers do not work well together :LOL

[rad]

All the EPO will do is help to ripen your cervix. Your body still won't go into labor until it's good and ready since EPO isn't a uterine contractor. I took it last pg and may try it again this time.

RRL can be taken all through pg. It's just a uterine toner. like citygirl said, it's good to drink anytime, no matter what stage of childbearing your in. I took it all thorugh my last pg and this one. Once again, it's not a uterine contractor so it's not going to put you into labor.