Tell me about EPO

Roxie5739 · May 2013

Sorry if this has been asked before....

Why start it around 36w?

How much do you take and how administered?

Are you doing it on OB/MW advice or just what you want to do?

sheacox · May 2013

i must be completely clueless... i have no clue what you are talking about, so i guess i'll just wait and check out the other answers

llsarmy · May 2013

I have taken it with my other two kids.

You dont want to start to early because it can soften the cervix. It will only work with your body though it will not cause labor.

I start with 1000 mg a day than move to 2000mg a day. I take them by mouth I have never stuck them in the cooch.

My sisters midwife swears by it I asked my OB they say it cant hurt.

This time around I have also added raspberry leaf tea tabs to my intake and that helps to strengthen the ute.

chelsmcl · May 2013

huckleberry08:
My guess is evening primrose oil.

Thanks! I had no clue what EPO was!

I don't think I'm taking it, is there a good reason to?

kriskell · May 2013

~~Chels&Ry~~:
huckleberry08:
My guess is evening primrose oil.
Thanks! I had no clue what EPO was!
I don't think I'm taking it, is there a good reason to?

You would know if you were taking it. It's not in your prenatal vitamins. You have to get liquigels at a health food store. It's not recommended before 36 weeks. I've heard one 1000mg orally per day the first week, then at 37, take two orally,then at 38, do one orally and one vaginally (just get it up as far as you can before bed, pantyliner suggested). It softens your cervix.

notquiteblushing · May 2013

But why do we want to soften our cervixes?

kriskell · May 2013

notquiteblushing:
But why do we want to soften our cervixes?

Because a baby has to pass through there Smile

"The use of evening primrose oil to start labor has been around for a long time, and many midwives swear by this technique when helping pregnant patients prepare for delivery. Evening primrose oil does not directly trigger the start of labor, but works by softening and ripening the cervix. This allows the baby's head to engage in the pelvis, encouraging dilation. Not everyone agrees that evening primrose oil will help to soften the cervix"

The way it was explained to me is that the cervix starts out about as hard as your forehead if you touch it with your index finger, then it softens to the feel of the tip of your nose, then the final stage is it's as soft as the inside of your cheek. EPO just helps the "ripening" process. It can also help prevent tears when rubbed into the perineum.

Of course, ask your provider.

skio · May 2013

zigspective:
~~Chels&Ry~~:
huckleberry08:
My guess is evening primrose oil.
Thanks!  I had no clue what EPO was!
No kidding, I was like... erythropoietin?
Labour is hard, but I really don't think you should be taking performance enhancing drugs for it.

/dead.

Because H has been joking with me about getting him some EPO from my "black market provider" so that he can kick asss at his triathlons this summer.

I'll be starting it at 35w. Good advice above. It's just helps soften/ripen the cervix, which needs to happen before labor anyway. It's the same reason you may have heard that you should have sex to help bring on labor; semen also softens the cervix.

I have 500mg tabs and will take one a day at 35w, then two at 36w. I am not sure how much I will increase from then on...I want to see how I handle the first doses.

iggles09 · May 2013

zigspective:

No kidding, I was like... erythropoietin?
Labour is hard, but I really don't think you should be taking performance enhancing drugs for it.

I was thinking the same thing! haha

Do you know if it is useful if your OB already noted your cervix to be soft and starting to dilate/efface? Just curious.

kaleyandjason · May 2013

notquiteblushing:
But why do we want to soften our cervixes?

Lolz.

Faith7 · May 2013

If you've never taken it before, I'd consider starting out on a low dose and taking it slow. It's not common, but people can occasionally have an allergic reaction. I tried taking it while TTC and it caused me to break out in a rash. (The only thing I've found that I'm apparently allergic to, including poison ivy!) Wouldn't have wanted to begin by putting it directly into my vagina!

notquiteblushing · May 2013

kriskell:
notquiteblushing:
But why do we want to soften our cervixes?
Because a baby has to pass through there
"The use of evening primrose oil to start labor has been around for a long time, and many midwives swear by this technique when helping pregnant patients prepare for delivery. Evening primrose oil does not directly trigger the start of labor, but works by softening and ripening the cervix. This allows the baby's head to engage in the pelvis, encouraging dilation. Not everyone agrees that evening primrose oil will help to soften the cervix"
The way it was explained to me is that the cervix starts out about as hard as your forehead if you touch it with your index finger, then it softens to the feel of the tip of your nose, then the final stage is it's as soft as the inside of your cheek. EPO just helps the "ripening" process. It can also help prevent tears when rubbed into the perineum.
Of course, ask your provider.

Ah ok, I just have no desire to do that at 36 weeks. Maybe like week 38 or 39 but I don't want to walk around for a month with a ripe cervix.

HelgaFunk · May 2013

yeah. i'm going to go ahead and let mother nature handle all this stuff. i don't see any point in trying to encourage my body to do something it's not ready to do.

Tell me about EPO

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