Fill me in on EPO please!

[RoadBuddy]

I'm due Saturday and am getting worried (prematurely) about induction. I'm planning a natural hospital birth with a supportive doctor, a doula, and a hospital with good policies on the things I care about. However, the doc and hosp. are kind of picky on the 42 week mark I have a NST scheduled for next Friday, when I'm basically 41 weeks. I'm OK with that, and trust my doctor to give me accurate info (not trumphed up reasons for an induction). However, I don't want to make it to 42. My gut says that if I do, I should have the induction (I'm sure of my dates within 2 days), so I don't want to get to that point. I know I can refuse, and might if it comes to it...but I don't want to have to make that decision. I'm walking a lot and having sex (I heard somewhere that sex 2 or 3 times in one day is especially good, so DH will have a fun due date celebration this weekend )

The other thing I'm considering is EPO. Can anyone please fill me in? What are the risks? I'm not interested in castor oil, but EPO seems less risky? I've heard conflicting things about vaginally inserting or taking it orally. Any and all info would be super appreciated. Help me, please! Thanks

If it matters, I've been 1-2 cm for about 4 weeks, no real progress in dilation. I'm 50% effaced, the baby is at -1 for the past week or so, and my cervix is very soft and anterior (that's the part that seems to have been changing the most). So I'm not really making a lot of progress, but signs are there a little bit. This is my first baby, and it is a boy.

[sarabrynn82]

I haven't heard of any real risks with epo... but that doesn't mean there aren't any, I guess.

Anyway, my mw suggested that I take two orally in the morning and two inserted at night. The idea is that it helps produce prostaglandins and ripen your cervix. But it's only going to do it if your body's ready for it anyway. I started taking it at 33 weeks for what we thought was going to be a 34 week induction, and at 38.5 weeks my cervix is just now softening up.

HTH

[Willzmama]

My mw suggested I take one 500 mg EPO orally 3x/day. She did not advise taking it vaginally. She mentioned bacteria concerns? Plus she believes it works systemically, with your hormones. The purpose is to soften your cervix, and if yours already is, I don't know how much good it would do you? HTH!