Blue Cohosh

[AmyGirl28]

Blue Cohosh... good or bad? Anyone have any advice or input? My cervix is closed up tight and I really need it to open. The countdown to my c-section is 11 days. I have to get this baby out.

[flyingspaghettimama]

I'd like to know too...

[MamaFern]

ive been taking homeopathic cohosh called "cauliphyllum" or something like that im not sure how much its working but i am more dialeted/effaced ect.. than i was a few days ago.. it could be a bunch of things im doing ( EPO, acupressure, homeopathics, stretch and sweep) but it may just be my body doing it as well.. it cant hurt in homepathic form i dont think. from what ive read about teas and tinctures i decided it wasnt for me because i did bleed quite a lot with elwynn and it can cause bleeding, or so ive read.. it concerned me enuff to not drink the tea i bought the other day. there is lots of great info online

[deathbygodiva]

My Mw used Labor Ease (a mixture of black and blue cohosh and other herbs) to stimulate labor. For softening the cervix, she massaged Evening primrose oil on the cervix. I know you can take it orally as well.
Here's a link
<A HREF="http://www.alternatehealth.net/site/521705/product/21401">LaborEase

To bring on labor, I used 10 drops held under the tongue for as long as possible fevery hour. I took 4 doses before I was in active labor. Started the drops at 4:30 (with no contractions) and gave birth at 9:20.

[samsmamma]

I don't know about the cohosh for starting labor. I am using for afterpains

[flyingspaghettimama]

Geez, samsmamma, rub it in, why dontcha?

[flapjack]

Personally, I wouldn't: there's enough tenuous links between blue cohosh and heart problems in the newborn to worry me, plus I don't like using herbs that I can't see growing wild.

I'd massage EPO or castor oil (cheaper) on the cervix at least twice daily, have sex at least twice/three times daily and do some major, major visualisation. Lots and lots of acupuncture/pressure, and I'm planning (should it come to it) to combine castor oil with caulophyllum 200c- 2*2tablespoons of castor oil before bedtime so I sleep through the nausea, get up in the morning and then 1 pillule of the caulophyllum every half an hour until the contractions are strong and regular (I don't have a problem with regular, I'm struggling to get contractions strong enough to do anything.)
Don't worry about the cervix- there's a reason why so many doctors don't do internals. It'll go when it's ready.

[cjbeach]

Originally Posted by MamaFern

ive been taking homeopathic cohosh called "cauliphyllum" or something like that im not sure how much its working but i am more dialeted/effaced ect.. than i was a few days ago.. it could be a bunch of things im doing ( EPO, acupressure, homeopathics, stretch and sweep) but it may just be my body doing it as well.. it cant hurt in homepathic form i dont think. from what ive read about teas and tinctures i decided it wasnt for me because i did bleed quite a lot with elwynn and it can cause bleeding, or so ive read.. it concerned me enuff to not drink the tea i bought the other day. there is lots of great info online

I took black and blue cohosh with little success with DD. The matrigin worked for me a bit more. I think Matrigin is similar to Mama Fern's caulophyllum.

[gratefulbambina]

Should prob only do it if you are being watched by midwife or dr.

I second the whole lotta sex to get things moving, make sure that you have your butt in the air & stay there for as long as you can after the deed is done. At least that worked for me. Also nipple stimulation while sitting on the toilet helps too

[flapjack]

Thanks, Carrie: I now have a mental image of a heavily pregnant woman sat on a toilet, straining whilst twiddling her nipples. The porcelain throne was just TMI, you know???
From what I gather, matrigin is goldenseal based, which is (goldenseal) a herbal abortifacient which will bring on strong contractions: I know my great-granny used to use it with some of her ladies (she was a lay midwife in the days before they were regulated...) I think it depends how fed up you are, but it could be a very quick labour.
Anyone read/reading Susun Weed's Herbal for the Childbearing Year???

[gratefulbambina]

Sorry for the mental visual! The night that we thought my labor was starting we did that but it never jumped started it. Using an electric pump or if you have a toddler that can nurse is actually better to use.

Also while your having sex have your dh stimulate for 20 mins

[spiritmomma]

funny story...

yesterday was my due date and all day long I was drinking RRL tea, walking, and using the electric pump to try to strengthen my ctx and start labor.
so dh and I were watching a movie and at a particularly tender moment in the film, he and I looked at each other with tears budding in our eyes...
and I'm pumping away!
We both laughed so hard!

[AmyGirl28]

Thanks for the advice. I threw my Blue Cohosh away. I am going to try the sex. But honestly I think I can only handle once a day. Hopefully that will be enough. I guess I could do the nipple stimulation too, but not on the potty. You guys gave me a good laugh. Thanks!

[anarchamama]

Hi just visiting from the Jan boards. I took a cohosh tincture which my mw gave me when i was 41 weeks with my ds. After much debate and consideration we decided to go for it. And it didn't do a damn thing, I tried everything, and he stayed put till 41 weeks 6 days...........

Heather

[flyingspaghettimama]

Fern, what strength and how much caullophyican'tspellit are you taking?

I got some 30c, but don't know how often or how much to take it. My mother recommended it (she uses homeopathics with animals), eh, can't hurt like the actual herb.

[MamaFern]

thats what i was taking ( 30c or was it 100c.. ) 3 times daily but i ran out and i dont think it was doing anything for me anyways..i did have mild cramps for days but thats all.. so i didnt replenish my supply. but good luck with it!

[DreamsInDigital]

I tried 10 drops of black and blue cohosh tincture every 30 minutes for 4 hours like the gentlebirth site said. Big fat nothing.