evening primrose oil questions?

[newmommajess]

my due date was the 15th and my midwife said i'm not dialated at all. She told me to do some research on evenong primrose oil. Anyone have any clue how dangerous or effective this is? I'm going to drink castor oil tomorrow if babe doesn't come sooner

[askew]

I have been taking EPO since 34 weeks. I am 38+ now and 75% effaced and 2cm dialated, and I think the EPO helped a lot. It is supposed to ripen the cervix by releasing prostaglandins. Semen does the same thing. EPO is not dangerous at all- it is just an essential fatty acid. I don't think it would work by tomorrow though.

[averil rose]

I don't think it would work by tomorrow though.

You never know, though. My son was born the day after I began taking EPO. I don't know if it actually did something, or he was just ready to come, three weeks early...

[newmommajess]

well she told me try sex tonight...castor oil tommorrow then if those didn't work to try epo. I don't want a section and I think if I'm not dialated monday, they're gonna schedule one. Do you insert it or take by mouth?

[rainbowfairymomma]

woooooooahhh sorry but is there a reason she is thinking c-section already? She should feel pretty comfortable in letting you go another 2 weeks.
I won't do the castor oil at all... have you done much research on it?

Def start the EPO, it doesn't hurt at all but won't start labor. It should help you to soften up etc...

You can start taking 2 capsules 3 times per day and also you could put them in your cervix.

Hang in there mama

[Mrs_Hos]

First...caster oil can be bad--can make BABY poop too...don't want that...

Second...SCHEDULE C/S?!?!?!?! WTF??? So, you're only 2 days past 'due date' and will be 5 days past on Mon--not even a week...they shouldn't be talking c/s or induction for 10 days or so...and then you aren't even OVER due until 42 wks.
Remember, your due date could be off--are you truly a 28 day cycle? If you are a 34 day cycle you aren't even at your due date yet!?
This all seems SO PREMATURE to talk about these things--is there something I'm missing!?!?!

EPO--helps ripen the cervix...but won't necessarily start the labor--only your baby releasing hormones and your body's hormones changing starts labor...it is a pattern that if messed with can cause intervention after intervention after intervention...So EPO (which doesn't change your hormones etc, just softens the cervix much like rubbing vit E on your skin would do...allows cervix to open more easily since it is soft and pliable) is safe and won't get the ball of interventions rolling. Go for it!

And...tell your mw to BACK OFF--geez louise! Why the rush?

[Mrs_Hos]

PS--sorry I sound so harsh--I'm irritable with this pregnancy as of late--a sign of impending labor?

[littlelambs]

i agree with mrs_ hos...it seems awefully early to be discussing such dramatic things. EPO is exactly as what Mrs_Hos said...just a ripener, not an inductor so i find it odd your MW said to try it AFTER the other things? I used ti with my second pregnancy and dialted very quickly when labor started on it's own, about 2 weeks after i had started inserting it vaginally each night. i have been using it (2 capsules, 500mg each) at night inserted vaginally in this pregnancy for the last 2 weeks or so...off and on though, if dh and i have sex, i don't do it that night. i would diff start it if i were you. it will ony help and couldn't hurt you, diff more mild than castor oil! you can find it in the vitamins section of any grocery store and is only a couple bucks a bottle. you can also take them orally if you aren't comfortiable inserting them vag.

[mamaw/two]

I would definately NOT us the castor oil, unless it was a last resort! I used EPO with 2nd dd, I was dialated to 2 1/2 by 40 wks. This time I haven't used it and was only at 1 cm at 40 wks (my midwife now says I need to start non-stress tests and US 2 times a week, WTF?). So I have started taking the EPO vaginally. I am concerned about taking it orally because 2nd dd had meconium and I wonder if it was from the laxative effect of the EPO. Good luck to you and try not to let anyone talk you into induction or c-section!

[Helen White]

Originally Posted by Mrs_Hos

First...caster oil can be bad--can make BABY poop too...don't want that...

I've read this isn't true--that the studies that found higher incidence of meconium in CO inductions failed to take into account that a larger percentage of CO inductions are with post-term babies and that post-term babies already have a higher incidence of meconium.

If CO works by irritating the digestive tract and flushing everything through, it seems hard to imagine much being absorbed at all, let alone passed to the baby and having a dangerous effect.

ETA: Not that I'm advocating the use of CO in any particular situation. I'm just interested in it. I've been doing research on it myself (being 13 days past my due date!). And I'm wondering--wouldn't the baby have to take CO by mouth to actually receive the laxative effect? Would it work as a laxative for us if we took it by iv? Anyway, I could see CO perhaps causing some cases of meconium just by perhaps starting stronger, more intense contractions in some moms. Fetal distress is a risk of just about any induction method (including things like nipple stimulation), and fetal distress could lead to meconium. But I just don't see CO being higher risk (meconium-wise) than other induction methods.