Evening Primrose Oil

[Jenny0116]

Has anyone been told to start taking Evening Primrose Oil? My MW told me to start taking it but I don't want to kick things off too soon. She said it just "ripens" the cervix but my sis told me she took it to go into labor. I don't think I want to take it yet. I just wanted to know any opinions from you ladies.
Thanks!
Jen

[yellowwood mama]

I'm taking it orally and have been for almost a week (I'm 37.5 weeks). My MW said not to take it vaginally until about 38 weeks. She also said that sometimes women are just more receptive to herbal treatments. Some women never see any effects from herbs and others see effects right away. That's why you want to be careful with strong stuff like Black and Blue Cohosh becase if you're one of the herbally receptives it can throw you right into labor.

[monkeymimi]

I've been taking EPO, 1300 mg daily, all along. I took it before I was pg and the midwife advised me to keep it up. I think orally, it wouldn't do enough to actually kick you into labor= but, don't quote me. I think orally, it's more of a tonifier - it's the cervical application that gets things cranking.

[honeybee]

On my mw's advice, I've been taking the oral dose twice a day since 36 weeks. I view it as kind of like taking flax or fish oil.... it just helps keep everything lubricated. :lol

[CharlotteSometimes]

Does anyone know whether other oils work the same way as EPO? Like Fish? I just happen to be taking fish oil and am wondering whether it would behoove me to take EPO or whether my bases are already covered. I took EPO orally with dd and went into (really unpleasant) labor like 2 days into it, so I'm curious as to the quality in EPO that can help ripen things...

thanks!

[LeslieB]

I've been taking EPO orally and vaginally for 3 weeks now (since week 36), and I'm not in labor yet. I'm pretty sure it just ripens the cervix.

[amyrobynne]

I've been taking it now and then since 36 weeks at the advice of my midwife.

FWIW, I took blue and black cohosh while in prodromal labor at 41+ weeks last time around and still didn't kick into active labor for another 2 days.

[Ell-Bell]

My MW suggested I start taking it last week, too (36 weeks). I've been taking 1300mg orally daily. My understanding is that it just softens and ripens the cervix, like semen does. I don't think it will start anything happening, just make things more ready if they DO start on their own. I'm not "ready" either!

I have been taking fish oils all along (DHA, specifically) for other benefits. I don't think they ripen the cervix like EPO. DHA is supposed to foster good neurological development.

The other oil to take for ripening is Borage Oil.

[JamieCatheryn]

Flax Seed and Fish oils have some of the same good stuff as EPO, the essential fatty acids and DHA, but they don't have the chemical that's used in your body for prostaglandin production that Primrose does. I'm pretty sure that's what contributes to the softening and effacing effect it can have.

[Mariposa]

i wonder if i should get some of that and start taking some like tomorrow. especially if i have to get induced. i could start putting it in vaginally? that might help things along as well. i will have to go read about it and get some tomorrow when i pick up the rose EO i want to get to help me in labor.

[melamama]

It's my understanding that the epo is taken (orally/vaginally) for it's prostaglandin qualities -to soften the cervix. It would just help get things ready. I took it during my first pg, and dd was 41wks+.

Semen would have the same effect. maybe TMI, but either by direct application or absorbed (if you swallow):blush

[nubianamy]

I've decided not to take any ripening agents like EPO unless I go postdates. I would rather see what my body does without them.