Question for a friend

[Marlet]

I have a friend who is overdue (or going overdue...so far it's only three days) and is interested in inducing with blue and black cohosh. Can anyone tell me how she would do it and all that stuff? She's nervous it may harm the baby and I'm no help as all I know is that is works for some!

[homemademomma]

i would definitely not do something as drastic as b&b unless i was reaaallly overdue. black cohosh can raise blood pressure, so if she has bp issues, iw ouldnt do that. both cohoshes can hyperstimulate the uterus, causing really painful ctx without much dilation.


my advice to your friend would be to enjoy her last few days! tell her to check in with herself and make sure all is right in her world- is she ready for baby, is her relationship with dp/babydaddy good, is she worried, etc etc. emotional issues can really stall labor. if she wants to help bring labor on, lots of walking and other activity, orgasms and intercourse, and spicy foods can all help. evening primrose oil can be taken orally and inserted vaginally to help ripen the cervix. the cohoshes can be taken homeopathically to help encourage labor as well.

above all, trust in your body! she will have this baby, when her baby is ready.

[artgoddess]

There are exceptions to everything, but I believe that more often than not most first pregnancies will go about 41 weeks or beyond.

When I hit 10 days past due my OB gave me 3 days to get things going on my own before he would induce. This is what I did:

-went for a long walk (uphill included) when I got home from the doctor
-had really spicy chicken wings for dinner, I ordered them extra spicy.
-went for another long walk in the evening.
-made love with my DP.
-lots of nipple stimulation, DP helped with that during above.
-talked to the baby, told the baby that we wre ready for him/her to meet us, and not to be afraid that we would make them feel safe and loved. I talked to the baby on my walks when I was falling alseep that night etc...

At 8:00 am the next morning I woke up to my 1st contraction.

[mightymoo]

Yes, in fact studies have shown that the average length of pregnancy for first time mothers is 41 weeks and 1 day. Average, which means as many moms will go past that as before. So the due date is just plain silly IMO.

I went 42 weeks and 3 days with DD and I did not attempt the cohoshes until I actually reached 42 weeks (or maybe the day after even) and even then it did not do anything for me. They have not been well studied and so their safety and efficacy as a labor starter is questionable. (That isn't to say they are unsafe, but you can't be sure)

I agree with the PP, 3 days overdue is far too soon to be resorting to something like that - try the gentler, safer methods of nudging labor along first. (As mentioned, sex, spicy food, walking, epo, etc) They baby will come when he/she is ready.