Blue/Black Cohosh

[paradoxia13]

So...at my 37 week yesterday my midwife said if I want to start taking them to go right ahead. Those, and evening primrose vaginally. I did EPO last time with my son, and will go ahead and start that this time around. I'm just wondering about other people's opinions on them? I'm in no hurry to push this one out, she's got plenty of time yet before I become horribly impatient. Just curious more than anything.

If I do it I'll do the homeopathic pellet ones, Caulophyllum and Cimicifuga, but I'm curious other folks opinions. Pros? Cons?

Thanks,
Heather

[Emily12581]

I wouldn't take them. They have been known to cause fetal/infant heart attack. IMO it isn't worth it to push so hard for babe to come out. I'd stick with the EPO and that's about it.

[Whittliz]

My midwife also suggested that I begin a homeopathic routine at 35 weeks..along with EPO. After much research, I decided against them. The purpose of labor prep homeopathics is to tone the uterus. Well, I think my uterus is quite able to tone itself and is doing so with regular BH's.

I say skip them...I am using EPO though. I had cryo 2 years ago and would like to soften any scar tissue that is present.

Happy birthing!

[ekblad9]

It must be the *thing* now b/c my m/w also suggested the homeopathic version of the cohashes. I had never been told to take them before. I did buy them but felt very nervous taking them so they are still in the bottle. I took some but it just raised my anxiety level which can't be a good thing. I have been doing EPO for a while now though it doesn't seem to matter much.

[veganf]

I really wouldn't do anything until at least 40 weeks. Walking, sex, etc....just the truly natural stimulation is the safest IMO. No matter how miserable I am, I truly believe baby knows best.

[Halfasianmomma]

paradoxia...my doula is a herbalist and had me start on EPO a while back, 2 x 500 mg in the morning and at lunch, orally, and 2 x 500 mg at bed time vaginally. It's worked great in terms of getting my cervix nice and soft, as my doctor confirmed.

As for the caulophyllum and cimicifuga, I did a regiment of them at 38 wks, alternating 1 granule of each for 10 days. I didn't feel like it did much, so I went and got myself caulophyllum 30 ch, and have been taking 3 granules a day for 2 days now. It has strengthened the contrax I did have and caused a lot of movement in there, but aside from that, I'm 40 wks + 5 and I still haven't given birth yet. : I've been told the homeopathic forms of black and blue cohosh aren't dangerous like the tinctures are, and that they can be used to get labor started as well as while in labor to strengthen existing contractions.

There is a stronger version specifically meant to start labor--caulophyllum 200 ch, but I wouldn't take it unless supervised by a homeopathic specialist. My doula refered to it as "taking out the big guns"...and I might just resort to it seeing as I'm looking at an induction by mid-July.

HTH!

[Tenk]

There really is a ton of research on the cohoshes causing fetal death, or lots of stress in them. I did take it with my 3rd, he's alomost 5 now, and it did NOTHING for me. I wouldn't advise that, but that's just me.

Sex is good for the soul, EPO is much safer than them, and well that's about it. Good luck mama, with your decision, it's a big one.

[JunebugsMom]

I haven't used it myself, but I did talk to a friend yesterday who used it before the birth of her daughter. She said it was a big mistake and she wouldn't do it again. She felt that it started her contractions before her baby was ready to come out--she ended up with a very looonnng stalled labor and eventually had to transfer from home to the hospital and have pit and epidural. Just thought I'd pass along her story.

[JessicaS]

IMO cohashes shouldn't be used without the care of an herbalist. If your M/W is an herbalist then she should give you information regarding its use.

It is a very serious herb. IMO one might as well use pictocin as use cohashes.

[Kidzaplenty]