castor oil tonight!

[mrsrayray]

my midwife said to try taking 1 TBSP at bedtime with some OJ! So DH is picking some up on the way home tonight. I just noticed some talk of castor oil experiences in the daily check in today.

i'm really hoping it works, i'm 42 weeks today and ready to go!

i've heard some people take way more than 1 TBSP?? midwife says to take another TBSP in the morning if nothing happens..hmm

[ann_of_loxley]

DO NOT DO IT!!!
ITS VERY DANGEROUS!
I CAN NOT EVEN BELIEVE THAT YOUR MIDWIFE HAS RECOMMENDED THIS TO YOU!!!

Have you thought about it? What is castor oil used for? Its to help you poo basically. So what you are doing is giving yourself diareah (as you are not constipated) - this will dehydrate your body. If it 'works' it only works because it puts your body in distress. The last you want is to have the squirts when you go into labour with the posibility of your child pooing inside of you - which isnt good for them either!

Please do NOT take the castor oil! I seriously thought the world was more clued up on that bt I guess not! Do not do it!

[mrsrayray]

Originally Posted by ann_of_loxley

DO NOT DO IT!!!
ITS VERY DANGEROUS!
I CAN NOT EVEN BELIEVE THAT YOUR MIDWIFE HAS RECOMMENDED THIS TO YOU!!!

Have you thought about it? What is castor oil used for? Its to help you poo basically. So what you are doing is giving yourself diareah (as you are not constipated) - this will dehydrate your body. If it 'works' it only works because it puts your body in distress. The last you want is to have the squirts when you go into labour with the posibility of your child pooing inside of you - which isnt good for them either!

Please do NOT take the castor oil! I seriously thought the world was more clued up on that bt I guess not! Do not do it!

hmm, it's interesting to hear you say that. I've been reading up on it for the past 3 weeks and the worst I'd heard was dehydration assuming you're not making every effort to drink a lot of water. (Which I do...) As far as the possibility of meconium, my research has shown that castor oil actually causing the meconium is debatable. My husband and I both talked to my midwife today for about 45 minutes, in 25+ years of being a homebirth midwife none of her patients have had a problem with it yet. So I feel I can trust her. I just thought I'd see what experiences any of the women on the board have had with it personally...

[BaBaBa]

I did it twice with no results but I was desperate to avoid medical induction. (Also 42 weeks).

It was recommended to me to add vodka to the cocktail and I don't know what I was thinking at the time but I later realized I had poured 2 oz of vodka instead of 1.

Both times I felt miserable afterwards (and it wasn't because of the vodka because I made sure to make it right next time).

Now I can't imagine going in to labour and having a baby after the body has already gone through all that.

I would never consider doing it again.

Eventually ended up going into labour after 3rd stretch and sweep immediately followed by an all you can eat indian buffet. :

[mrsrayray]

Originally Posted by BaBaBa

I would never consider doing it again.

Eventually ended up going into labour after 3rd stretch and sweep immediately followed by an all you can eat indian buffet. :

I've always wanted to try indian food, maybe I'll get some tomorrow night! I love spicy food.

[Ms. B. Sprout]

Another MDC castor oil debate. How tiresome.

Ann_of_Loxley, please come back to our DDC and talk -- no YELL -- at us when YOU'RE 42 weeks pg. I am assuming you've had this experience, no?

[zjande]

Well I already shared my experience in the daily update thread, I hope yours is as straight forward, easy & productive as mine were! I thought I'd mention though, the dose that I took each time was 2 ounces of oil. That's a ton more than a tablespoon! But maybe a tablespoon is all you need. I also took mine at night, & both times I never did sleep at all- 1st I was up "dealing" with the effects of the oil, then I was laboring. My baby's came at 5:40am & 6:45am. It wasn't a problem for me (the no-sleep thing) but it's something to keep in mind.

Good luck! :

(ps. my own research also showed that the mec in the water thing linked to the oil is very debatable..... & fwiw, there was a sm amount of mec in the water of one of my castor oil inductions, & none in the other.)

[mom2liv]

I just wanted to jump in to say good luck, whatever you decide. I truly hope to see your baby announcement soon!!! :

[clintonhillmama]

Originally Posted by mom2liv

I just wanted to jump in to say good luck, whatever you decide. I truly hope to see your baby announcement soon!!! :

:

fwiw, my midwife recommends doing castor oil after a full night's rest. you could be up all night pooping....

[kittywitty]

:

[MCKH]

Originally Posted by clintonhillmama

:

fwiw, my midwife recommends doing castor oil after a full night's rest. you could be up all night pooping....

I think this is a very valid point. Whatever you decide, I hope it works for you and best of luck!

[wife&mommy]

When I read this I was thinking the same thing. Why take it at night if you will be up all night pooping.

Anyway good luck, I hope it works for you!

[PGinthe612]

Best of luck to you. I took 3T at 1:30 today and am now having semi-regular contractions 8 1/2 hrs later. Woohoo! And I'm all done with the pooping (I think).

[VickV]

Good luck!!

[mrsrayray]

my DH asked me to wait til tonight to take it in case it really does work. I've got a bunch of errands and things to run today so it makes sense... Thank you everyone for the feedback, I'll keep all of it in mind!

[suzylou]

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

My MW suggested it to me today as well, I'm undecided but getting to the point where I'll try pretty much anything to avoid the induction the hospital are going to try to force on me next week...

[guest9921]

Happy birthing/labor vibes OP.
Do what feels right to you.

Originally Posted by suzylou

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

My MW suggested it to me today as well, I'm undecided but getting to the point where I'll try pretty much anything to avoid the induction the hospital are going to try to force on me next week...

You can Always decline.

[mrsrayray]

i've been having a lot of crampy-contractions today, still happening tonight. so at this point i'm gonna wait and see if anything happens before taking the castor oil.... and a few of you mentioned taking it after a full night of sleep, which also sounds good. hmm.

i'm really thankful for all the input!