I am 42w2d pregnant and I have been doing some nipple stimulation as well as a failed attempt at cohosh. Any thoughts on castor oil? The other two aren't or didn't work. My husband checked my cervix, and thinks (very loosely because he doesn't have any idea about cervix's!) that I am about 2cm and very very soft. So far, I have really stayed away from even considering it.
I asked my midwife about her thoughts on it, and she gave it a favorable review, though I have heard some scary things about it here at MDC. I also know a friend who used it that labor was her longest and hardest ((but it could be more because the baby was 10 and a half pounds).
Even after reading the stories that sounded scary about intense cramping, I had decided to take it if I got to 43 weeks, but she came on her own before that.
I have already decided that if I get to 41.5 weeks I am doing it, since at 42 weeks I am going to get very very hassled to schedule a c-section. I'd rather do castor oil than have surgery.
I would try it rather than agree to the induction you're worried about. I did it with baby #1 (several times), and while it didn't work for me (I wasn't even past my EDD, just super anxious and uncomfortable), it also wasn't horrible.
In Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, she mentions that they use it pretty regularly on The Farm, and that they start moms out with 1Tbsp mixed with scrambled eggs in the morning, then another 1-2 Tbsp mixed in a smoothie or something similar a few hours later, gradually using more Tbsps until labor begins (usually). She thinks this is more gentle than chugging a ton of it and works as well.
I used it w/both of mine. With the first to avoid pit induction (that I didn't know I could refuse) (OB, hospital birth). It worked, but it really pushed my labor into super mode, starting w/contractions 2min. apart and 1min. long from the very start. I also spent alot of time on the toilet, which was not pleasant.
2nd I used at 42wk, 2 days, took a much smaller dose four hours apart. It worked as well, though was much milder. There were multiple reasons I used it, husband leaving town on business (after cancelling 2 trips already), midwives having to transfer care at 43 weeks, avoiding more BPP's, etc. Had a wonderful birth. And of course, looking back, I wish I had waited for babe to come out on her own. I wonder if she would have still had a hand at her face/head at birth if I had waited for her to come on her own. But it is so hard being "late" (even though, really, it's not that late!!!!!, but in this day and time every other woman seems to be having their babes at 40 weeks or earlier). Of course, I did love telling strangers when they asked when I was due "um, two weeks ago". Their eyes bugging out of their heads was almost worth being late
And it's always easy to look back at something, and say "well, if I had just waited another week, or day".... BTW, I was nearly 5cm for 4 weeks up to labor, so I was very ripe, but baby was very comfy and healthy in there
I had tried nipple stim, accupuncture, black/blue homeopathic cohosh (which made me feel awful!), etc. from 41 weeks on. I will always wonder how long I really carry my babies.
I am trying cohosh again right now. I just took my third dose of it. I am taking black and blue. If it doesn't work today...which it doesn't seem to be, and the nipple stim doesn't work...which is isn't...I am going to go for it. I figure, a little vomiting might do the trick. Although I really would rather have both of my legs broken then feel sick. That probably comes from the eighteen weeks of severe hyperemesis that I got through....
Originally Posted by DoulaSarah
I am trying cohosh again right now. I just took my third dose of it. I am taking black and blue. If it doesn't work today...which it doesn't seem to be, and the nipple stim doesn't work...which is isn't...I am going to go for it. I figure, a little vomiting might do the trick. Although I really would rather have both of my legs broken then feel sick. That probably comes from the eighteen weeks of severe hyperemesis that I got through....
Are you taking the cohoosh in liquid form? That didn't do anything fir me but the pellet form, caullophylum worked wonders in my case. I was 43 full weeks when I tried it
I did CO twice, and it didn't do anything but make me sick. Ugh.
Have you tried evening primrose oil? Accupressure? There are points around the ankle to induce but someone with experience needs to tell you where they are cause I don't remember.
I do accupressure points everyday, a couple of times a day. I am a doula, so I have done this very successfully to help other moms jumpstart a labor. It isn't working for me.
I am going to the chiropractor
I am having sex and orgasm's...how you ask...you don't want to know...at 42 weeks, it ain't pretty.
I have done visualizations and I have let a lot go
I am reading about birth and talking about birth
I have done cohosh
Aromatherapy
massage
evening primrose oil
nipple stim and nursing
I have also done nothing!
The only thing that I haven't done is castor oil...my DH is picking some up for me, but I haven't decided if I am going to do it or not. The babe sounds and looks great, so I might hold off as long as i can!
Well, I did some research on-line and it is soooo out there!
Half the stuff says that it causes mec..the other half says no. I think it would more likely be from postdates myself. Ina May uses it a lot and they have great stats.
So I am doing it...yes at night, which is the opposite of what everyone says, but that is when I labor best. So I am doing it with root-beer, a little shake and down it goes. It is painless and tasteless. It doesn't bother me at all. I have done 1 tblsp about 1/2 hour ago and another just now, so i will do one more in about an hour. I am taking that from Ina's book. Some say to do 4 oz at a time!! Yikes! I would probably die!
I think that all of those that say it is gross, haven't been putting cohosh ticture in their mouths for two days!! hehe...
sarah: cohosh tinctures in my mouth for a few hours at the end of my laboring with my babe was enough for me! the fruit punch chaser made it semi-palatable...
thinking of you and your beautiful baby... come out and meet your mama face-to-face, little one...
I took about 3-4 tblsp over the course of a couple of hours, and didn't feel anything until just now....probably about 4 hours later. I am noticing some contractions, but nothing that is consistant. I am just starting to feel the "castor oil-ness" of it all...if you know what I mean. Hopefully I will have my baby soon!!!!????
yay, Sarah! It does take awhile to kick in. I always follow up with another 2oz dose in root beer, drank through a straw while someone stirs with a spoon.
I am a first time mom with no experience but I was having really bad hemroids where nothing would come out. I used 1tsp of castor oil ( with about 200 other things like fiber etc to get things moving) this led to some contractions that petered out ( I wasn't effaced or anything)
I thought I might just throw a few things in here. I mixed the castor oil with icecream ( pick a kind you don't like) for some reason this worked when the everything else I tried didn't I think the fat made it go in my system better.
Also I really believe that you should try an enema ( or two or three) I would do it on my hands and knees with my head on the ground ( great position I know) I would do a warm one( body temp ) and I would hold it atleast 15 minutes ( if not do another one until you can) I don't think I would use the magnesium stuff from the store though. I did use their disposable bottles.
I really think that this got me contracting well and hey if you are already miserable from the castor oil what the heck. The women I know who did both had a much better chance of actuall consistant contractions and stayed in labor. Also I would still do the nipple stimulation or even just try hot compresses on those babies. That may help keep the oxytocin positive feedback loop going until you can get a full response. I wouldn't try to hypsertimulate them but I have mostly read that is if you are in full blown labor anyway. Also keep doing the acupuncture maybe have your husband do it while you lay still and relax.
I really think your dates are off. you are doing all that you can. Prayers and thoughts are with you.
This advice isn't all that good but I do know that this is where I will be heading next week..
The castor oil did the trick. Mallaigh Rose was born yesterday evening at 6:59pm with her dad and sisters and a ton of help present. She was full brow presentation, which was very painful, but she is doing great!! Thank you everyone for all of your wonderful support. She was 2weeks and 3days over, and it really showed. The placenta was calcified and spongy and there was no waters at all. I am so glad she is here.
Woohoo! Congratulations on your new baby! Glad to see the caster oil worked!
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