Natural Birth

Black/Blue Cohosh to induce labor

Has anyone talked to their OB/midwife/care provider about using herbs to induce labor?

I've tried pretty much everything under the sun and we're talking induction which means losing my midwife, birth plan etc and doing a hospital birth with whoever is on-call.  

I went to my local health store to look into buying the tinctures but they only had the black- no blue. They recommended taking a combo that would have both in them and I mentioned I already have dong quai combo at home which they seemed to think would work well.  It contains:

Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis), Rehmania root (Rehmannia glutinosa)
Black Cohosh (Actaea (Cimicifuga) racemosa),False Unicorn (Chamaelirium luteum), Blue Cohosh Caulophyllum thalictroides), Wild Yam
(Dioscorea villosa)  and Ginger .

The cohoshes, dong quai and false unicorn all seem to produce contractions and all the other ingredients don't seem like they would do anything.

I'm really uncomfortable (major pelvis pressure), hormonal, and just getting stressed about losing my midwife etc. I don't really have anyone I can ask about this as even my midwife is fairly western-medicine-y. Has anyone else's provider mentioned any of these things as options? 

Online information is recommending 20drops of black/blue mix (so 10 of each) every hour for 5 hours then stopping if there are no contractions.  I'm considering trying just 10 drops of my combo to see what happens but I'm kind of scared and don't want to do anything that would hurt my baby. 

Anyone have any information?

 

Re: Black/Blue Cohosh to induce labor

  • The herbs can have some pretty serious effects, just like Pitocin, so I would not take them without the guidance of a health care provider.

    Have you talked to your midwife about the possibility of a Foley balloon to induce labor?

  • I did the blue and black combo under the care of my MW as a last ditch effort because I was past 42 weeks.  It didn't work for me.  Nothing except just waiting for her to come when she was ready- and she did at 43 weeks. 

    Blue and Black is NOT something I would not do unless under the direct care of my MW...My MW was in the room with me when I took the first dose and monitoring me regularly by phone after that.  She discontinued it after about a half day because she felt that I should have been showing progress by that time- and since I wasn't, that meant it wasn't going to work.

    I don't understand why your MW is already talking about switching you when you are barely past 40 weeks?    Most first timers average 41 weeks and change, so it is very premature to be freaking out like this IMO. 


    Lilypie - (ZESJ)Lilypie - (QAi1)

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  • what type of mw do you have?

    did anyone inform you on what to buy and how to take it or are you doing it on your own?

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  • darmcadarmca member
    imageCaseBride:

    The herbs can have some pretty serious effects, just like Pitocin, so I would not take them without the guidance of a health care provider.

    Have you talked to your midwife about the possibility of a Foley balloon to induce labor?

    She's not legally allowed to induce here in Ontario Canada- she has to refer me to an OB once we reach that point. She has said I wouldn't need cervadil or a balloon, my cervix is soft, anterior, 1cm dilated and very favorable for induction. The OB would probably just break my water and have me hospital walk. I just hate the idea of it being some random OB (whoever's on call) and them not agreeing to follow any of my birth plan... It's hard to adjust to the idea.

  • darmcadarmca member
    imagepinksweetpea2:

    I did the blue and black combo under the care of my MW as a last ditch effort because I was past 42 weeks.  It didn't work for me.  Nothing except just waiting for her to come when she was ready- and she did at 43 weeks. 

    Blue and Black is NOT something I would not do unless under the direct care of my MW...My MW was in the room with me when I took the first dose and monitoring me regularly by phone after that.  She discontinued it after about a half day because she felt that I should have been showing progress by that time- and since I wasn't, that meant it wasn't going to work.

    I don't understand why your MW is already talking about switching you when you are barely past 40 weeks?    Most first timers average 41 weeks and change, so it is very premature to be freaking out like this IMO

    The freaking out is all me- she's very calm. My midwife will see me again next tuesday and sweep me again (3rd time) (she's a CNM to answer PP) but the community standard of care is to induce before 42 weeks. We've got it tentatively scheduled for Friday May 27.  He's measured ahead (approx 2 weeks) the whole time and seems like he will be big (about 9lbs right now) so the longer he's in the bigger he gets, which makes me worry about a c-section which I really do not want. I'm just a worrier Embarrassed

  • I wouldn't do the herbs without specific instructions from your MW. PP's are right when they say there can be side effects. 

    Have you tried Primrose Oil? I'd start taking it orally and vaginally.

     It sounds like your body is well on it's way to doing things on it's own... Odds are you'll go into labor on your own before you have to be induced. Hang in there. :) 

    image Don't argue with idiots, they bring you down to their level then beat you with experience. - Mrs. G
  • The cohosh works for most women, but you HAVE to do it under the care of your midwife. Try going to an accupressurist or getting a nice long pedicure... Get lots of rest and try to relax, Your baby will come when he's ready. Have you been doing evening primrose oil?

  • I really regret all the stressing I did at the end of my pregnancy- it really is the only thing I regret from the whole experience.  

    I think you should just take a day or two and stop thinking about inductions...or at least stop researching them.  Take the time and rest, listen to your body, go to a movie, get a pedicure.  Let your baby cook a bit longer if that is what he/she needs. 

    Oh, I wouldn't worry about your measurements.  They can be off and even if you have  a larger baby, that does not mean c-section.  Have FAITH in your body- that it will grow the right sized baby for you. 

     

    Edit- this advice comes from someone who TRULY knows where you are coming from.  Lily was born at exactly 43 weeks and was 9 lbs 15 oz.  I also had a very long labor and I can still say that I wouldn't change anything about my experience.  


    Lilypie - (ZESJ)Lilypie - (QAi1)

  • I would stop stressing right now if I were you. I went into labor at 41 weeks and 4 days after taking castor oil. I had such a terrible week leading up to it because I was so stressed.

    I would talk to your midwife about castor oil before doing cohosh. The key with castor oil is to keep very well hydrated, but it worked for me. 

    Good luck! You will go into labor, you can't be pregnant forever. 

    image

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  • darmcadarmca member
    imagecyprissa:

    I would stop stressing right now if I were you. I went into labor at 41 weeks and 4 days after taking castor oil. I had such a terrible week leading up to it because I was so stressed.

    I would talk to your midwife about castor oil before doing cohosh. The key with castor oil is to keep very well hydrated, but it worked for me. 

    Good luck! You will go into labor, you can't be pregnant forever. 

     

    I've tried castor oil, eating a whole pineapple, sex, walking, exercise ball (bouncing and rolling) and nipple stimulation. And I know I can't be pregnant forever because they will induce me on the 27th- I'd just rather not have it come to that.

  • Not trying to down play your concern but I think all the stress I felt is what caused me to go so late...honestly. At the point I took the castor oil, my foley bulb and cervadil induction was scheduled for the next day and if that didn't work, I was going to be transferred to the back-up OB for a pit induction. I wasn't even dilated enough for them to sweep my membranes! Once, I just let go and went with the flow, it happened (of course, I do think the castor oil helped). I totally, 100% feel your stress and anxiety. I was going nuts by the time I passed 40 weeks and still had to wait another 11 days for it to happen.

     

    image

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