Is evening primrose oil crossing the line??

[Thandiwe]

OKay, ethical, controversial question. My midwife recommended I start using evening primrose oil pearls to "ripen" my cervix. Is this ethically crossing that "induction" line?? I know it's natural, but won't it induce me just the same (only slower) as pit would?? I'm not against sex and walking, but talking about castor oil (which, btw, I'm yet to find someone who can vouch that it works) and evening primrose oil almost seems to cross that line into "induction" before he's ready to be born. I really want to go into labor naturally.

What do you think??

[HarperRose]

No. Imo it helps make the body ready to do what it does.

It is nothing like pit. It's like drinking RRL tea or taking RRL capsules.

[pbjmom1029]

I went into labor 3 hrs after taking castor oil with my dd #1 - granted I was 2 wks past the due date, had been 50% effaced and 3 cm dialated for over 3 wks so my body was "ready" anyhow - I do think the bowel movements (if you take castor oil be near the bathroom!!!) helped jump start my uterine contractions - oh, and my labor - from the first contraction to delivery was a little under 2 hrs - lol

I think what they say is that if your are "ripe and ready" something like castor oil may work to start uterine contractions but if your body isn't really ready it will just cleanse your bowels real well

[DarcyWronk]

EPO is MUCH gentler than castor oil. I did castor oil last time and it did give me some serious contractions for a few hours, but the labor halted and it was another week before I had my baby. (also, the diarrhea which resulted from the castor oil left my anus badly burned - it was awful)
EPO has plant prostoglandins which will affect you similarly to the prostoglandins in semen - they will help soften your cervix. Very gently IMHO.

[Tattiana]

I guess that I have never seen it as an induction method since it doesn't induce. It is supposed to help your cervix soften and help with any scar tissue if there is any. I think you need to do what you feel comfortable with. I took EPO with my last starting at about 36 weeks, and it did not put me into labor. Again, I have been taking EPO this time for 3 weeks and I am not in labor yet, either, but my cervix is ripening so I appreciate that.

[stacey2061]

Originally Posted by Tattiana

I guess that I have never seen it as an induction method since it doesn't induce. It is supposed to help your cervix soften and help with any scar tissue if there is any. I think you need to do what you feel comfortable with. I took EPO with my last starting at about 36 weeks, and it did not put me into labor. Again, I have been taking EPO this time for 3 weeks and I am not in labor yet, either, but my cervix is ripening so I appreciate that.

Yeah, what she said.

[aylaanne]

Pitocin is a synthetic hormone designed to look and act exactly like oxytocin that your body produces naturally. When they give you pit, they're lying to your body, telling your uterus that you're creating this hormone naturally when in fact that's not the case.

EPO, castor oil, even black and blue cohosh work by facilitating your body's natural responses. There's no lying or role-playing, instead it's more like clearing the road so your body can go where it needs to go. Think less "induction" and more "encouragement".

[Banana731]

Well, I guess I'm the lone dissenter... I personally don't want do anything to speed up going into labor. I did last time, but only because I was getting pressure from the medical establishment(you know how that is.) This time being wiser and not interested in what the medical establishment thinks, I think it's best to just wait it out. I don't have or self perform vag exams, and I don't feel like what my cervix is doing (at this point) before labor is something I should worry about. Maybe if I was really really past "due" I might consider it.

I don't think it's the same thing as drinking RRL either. That's muscular preparation, more like doing kegels or perineal massage.

Anyone do that, by the way?

[Thandiwe]

Thanks everyone!! A part of me has felt conflicted about EPO, so it was really good to read your responses. From what it sounds like, the big thing is ripening the cervix. I'm pretty well on my way, so I'm not sure how much of a difference it would make.

It's been neat learning what everyone knows about EPO; this board is soooo an educational tool!!!! Thank you everyone!!

[TeaLeaf]

I thought I'd post this link for you about Castor Oil, which, in this case, is not recommended; If you google it, you may find more issues about it.

http://www.maternitycorner.com/mcmag.../preg0007.html

[beautiful_mama]

Originally Posted by TeaLeaf

I thought I'd post this link for you about Castor Oil, which, in this case, is not recommended; If you google it, you may find more issues about it.

http://www.maternitycorner.com/mcmag.../preg0007.html

lurking from DIS (because I am probably having an Oct. baby )

thanks for this link, good info!

I did castor oil with my last baby and EPO, accupressure and sex, and he came at 5 days past EDD.

EPO IMO is not an induction method.
I have had PIT and it's much diffrent, it's meant to start labor, not just coax along what may already be happening...

[Thandiwe]

Originally Posted by TeaLeaf

I thought I'd post this link for you about Castor Oil, which, in this case, is not recommended; If you google it, you may find more issues about it.

http://www.maternitycorner.com/mcmag.../preg0007.html

Thanks for the link!! In researching EPO, I came across this, too, and found the info very helpful. Some people knock the internet as being a good research tool, but I disagree. Obviously you need to use discretion when differentiating between fact and fiction, but when you find the good info, it's absolutely invaluable.

[Tattiana]

I have to agree that my babies that I used EPO with did not come any sooner than the ones that I didn't use it with. I have no problem, though, helping my body dilate and efface in advance if it can help have a better, shorter labor. Especially since DH is working nights and we have few opportunities to use his semen to ripen things with 4 kids running around, so EPO it is.

[starbarrett]

nope, EPO doesn't start labor. It just gives your body the prostaglandins it needs to be able to dialate more efficiently when it's ready.