EPO/RRL Questions

[~Megan~]

Reading through some of the discussions here about using RRL and EPO for labor prep and have some questions.

My mw has already said that drinking the tea is fine and earlier in the pregnancy that taking EPO or Borage Oil is fine (for my skin).

I'm assuming that for labor prep (ie in the last month) one takes more of the supplements than in earlier pregnancy?

I'd like to do whatever I can to help prepare my body for labor (ie make things go as easily as possible).

I am wondering though about the use of of these supplements to induce labor. At what point do they induce labor if at all? I'm not at this point wanting to get things started prematurely (partially because I'm VBAC and don't feel so comfortable making my contractions any stronger than they need to be).

I do see my mw in two days but who can wait that long :LOL

[stafl]

EPO inserted vaginally is said to ripen the cervix by some people. Others say it does absolutely nothing that wouldn't have happened on its own. I drank RRL tea starting at 13 weeks throughout my entire pregnancy, lots of it. It tones the uterus, it does not induce labor.

[AugustLia23]

What she said.

EPO will help to ripen your cervix(EPO and Borage oil are precursors to prostaglandin, which helps ripen the cervix when the time is right), but won't do any more than that unless you're ready to go anyways, and RRL is a uterine toner, which will help to make your uterus strong, which in turn will make for more productive contractions when your body goes into labour, but it won't do anything to speed it along or induce it.

[~Megan~]

Thanks for the info. Basically it sounds like the EPO could help it along if things were already starting on their own.

I'll talk with her Tuesday about how much I can take of each before I change anything with my dose.

[vegetalien]

ok, RRL is red raspberry leaves. What the heck is EPO??

thanks
rowan

[~Megan~]

Evening Primrose Oil