[SarahShrader]

My husband is an airline pilot and if I don't time this baby right, he won't be here for the birth of our 2nd baby. I am freaking out a little bit because he was the ONLY thing I wanted at the first labor and delivery and I feel like I can't do it without him.

I am 39 weeks today and I've lost my mucous plug slowly over the last week. I have been taking evening primrose oil regularly at my midwife's request. Last week I was 1 cm dilated and almost 100% effaced.

My husband is coming home tonight until Wednesday, and then he's gone Wed-Fri. I'll be 40 weeks next Sunday (and with my first child I went 41 wks 4 days). He'll be home Friday until the following Thursday and then gone again.

He wants to do the Castor Oil Cocktail + blue cohosh + nipple stim and walking early tomorrow morning (my midwife's recipe), but I am nervous. I am a puker in labor (and pregancy for that matter) and I don't want to be totally dehydrated for active labor and delivery. I also feel a little weird about not starting labor on my own.

My question is: has anyone out their done Castor Oil? Was it good or bad? Should I take my chances and wait until he comes back and just hope I don't go into labor when he's gone?

My midwives are supportive either way. I'd LOVE to hear what you all think!

Thanks!
Sarah
Mom to Luke (9/10/02) and baby boy due 7/4/04

 

[plantmommy]

Theere's a thread on the general pregnancy board about castor oil.

Have you tried the EPO as vag. suppositories? Are you having lots of sex while dh is around?

 

[khrisday]

I tried castor oil with my second baby. My first was induced in the hospital at 42 weeks, and I was planning a homebirth for my second. My midwife wouldn't deliver past 42 weeks at home, so on my due date I took castor oil with her approval. It did start contractions- none of the horrible diarriah or puking, though; but they eventually petered out. It may kickstart your labor, but if you're not ready it's not going to work anyway. At least that is what my midwife believes.