Castor Oil

somewhat off topic, but I use a 50/50 mix of castor oil and olive oil to cleanse my face- and my skin is FLAWLESS.

I was just wondering about castor oil as well - my EDD is tomorrow and I'm a bit anxious (not about the due date itself, just not wanting to go to 42 weeks and having to be induced again). My DH called from work with a story his coworker told him tonight about how she mixed a tablespoon into 3 scrambled eggs and had the baby a few hours later.
"Interesting", I told him. "But how long did she spend in the bathroom?"

why is it still sold in stores?!?! :

Because there are a lot of other uses for it? It's primarily sold for skin care.

Thanks for the replies. I had no idea is could be used as a skin care product....maybe that's because it's found in the laxatives section.

I'm not near the end of my cooking time yet so I wouldn't try it even if I liked the idea of diarrhea. Maybe I will change my mind if I get to 42 weeks though!

About castor oil inductions and impatient midwives

"Inducing with castor oil isn't safe. Once swallowed the castor oil is hydrolized by intestinal lipases to recinoleic acid which stimulates intestinal secretion, decreases glucose absorption and increases intestinal motility. Castor oil is used in lipsticks, too. Many women who can tolerate the oil quite well on their lips get a reaction on their mouths if the oil converts to recinoleic acid. My question to a midwife who says castor oil is not absorbed is 'Would you please provide me with references for that statement'.

"It's not so long ago that birthing women were given soap suds enemas (high, hot and a helluva lot) because someone started a rumour that soap was not absorbed through the colon. We know this is not true and that this black page in Obstetric history is best forgotten. Too many women have turned from saying 'My doctor says' to saying 'My midwife says'. Take responsibility for your and your family's health. It's fine to respect professionals but ask for references on everything you're not l00 % sure of and use your internet to scope things out. There is so much crap that passes for science without anyone questioning it.

"On the subject of all the women in a hurry to get their babies born: I was 3 weeks 'overdue' with my oldest daughter. What really helped me was that I had lunch with a friend at about 8 mos pregnancy. Her son had been born 6 months before. When she saw me walk in the restaurant all hugely pregnant she said 'Oh, Gloria, when I see you I miss my pregnancy so much'. I knew that one day I'd be saying that, too, so I made up my mind to enjoy it as long as poss. and I'm so glad I did. Six months from now you'll be wondering what the rush was. I worry about women taking castor oil because you also give your baby castor oil when you take it through the gut. This means the baby will get diarhea and pass mec, too. then you're into all the transports for mec.

"The other thing about self-inducing is that you end up with erratic labours that stop and start and are difficult to complete. I just attended a Coroner's inquest here into the death of a full term baby girl. The midwife stripped membranes and got the woman into labour but she had no urge to push. She was in second stage a long time and then her perineum wouldn't stretch. They cut an episiotomy to get the baby out. Baby had bleeding in the brain and only breathed on life support. Later, Mom's placenta had to be manually removed because it wouldn't come out. It seemed to me that this woman's body wasn't ready to give birth and that the membrane stripping caused an emergency response in her body that produced dilation but eventually wore off.

"Bottom line: be patient with your little babes and yourself." -Gloria Lemay