EPO

helengoebel

hey ladies I just wanted to know if any of y'all have started taking EPO or have previously taken it with a pregnancy and your opinions on it. I am currently 36 weeks 3days and have been taking it for the past three days. TIA and I can't wait to hear from you mommas!

jesselayne8

I took it last pregnancy starting at 37wks. I was trying to avoid an induction and/or csection. It may have helped soften and thin out my cervix.

helengoebel

Yeah I've read that it has helped with making labor go smoother and it almost prepared the cervix. Thanks for the reply I'm just curious about it!

CaliforniaDream87

I took it once I hit 40 weeks with DS. I would never take it before 40 weeks.

helengoebel

Why wouldn't you take it before 40 weeks? If you don't mind me asking. @CaliforniaDream87

hclzmm14

I don't even know what that is...

helengoebel

Evening Primrose Oil @cllgarrison

CaliforniaDream87

helengoebel said:

Why wouldn't you take it before 40 weeks? If you don't mind me asking. @CaliforniaDream87

Being that EPO acts as a prostaglandin (which softens and ripens the cervix) I would never want to attempt any early inducing for my baby. Unless medically necessary, a baby needs to bake 40 weeks. I started taking it at 40 weeks to soften my cervix for L&D. That's what I was comfortable with.

To each their own.

helengoebel

Gotcha And that's true. My mother and my husbands mother have had early babies with each pregnancy and I'm just scared that if I want until 40 weeks then I might have already gone into labor and had her. I was also told to insert one vaginally every night.. Did you do that? Or just take it orally? @CaliforniaDream87

jesselayne8

I did oral and vaginally.

CaliforniaDream87

helengoebel said:

Gotcha And that's true. My mother and my husbands mother have had early babies with each pregnancy and I'm just scared that if I want until 40 weeks then I might have already gone into labor and had her. I was also told to insert one vaginally every night.. Did you do that? Or just take it orally? @CaliforniaDream87

I took it orally. I will say I had a pretty smooth delivery and barely tore. I don't know if there is any correlation though.

amylianne

I took it orally and vaginally last pregnancy. Still overdue and induced, ending in a c-section. From what my Dr says, and my experience, if your body is not ready it will not bring on labor. But, it doesn't hurt to try and make things go more smoothly!

lifesabeach85

There are a number of May/may not help won't hurt home remedies to make labor easier (or help it come on time) such as raspberry leaf tea and fresh dates

Ambermom043

I started drinking the raspberry leaf tea today out of curiosity (we'll see how my labor goes...) I may start taking EPO in a few weeks. Also gonna try perineal massage..:/ What can I say? I'm desperate not to tear.

cubberss

My MW gave me the go ahead to start taking it orally yesterday. I will wait until 37 weeks to start inserting it vaginally.

I did the same with my last two pregnancies. Started orally at 36 weeks and orally + vaginally at 37. Babies came quickly (5 hour and 4 hours) 3 days early and 5 days early. I have yet to hit a due date, though, even without EPO, so going a few days early is normal for me.

MouseMama817

I asked my midwife about it today and she said she doesn't personally recommend it because it's expensive and makes little to no difference. She recommended sex instead <:-P

jesselayne8

messymolly08 said:

I asked my midwife about it today and she said she doesn't personally recommend it because it's expensive and makes little to no difference. She recommended sex instead <:-P </div>

It's so much easier to take a pill than have sex at this point. I can't even think of the effort involved in sex at this size.

MouseMama817

@jesselayne8 Lolol I feel you. But now I'm stuck because guess who was at the appointment with me? Yea, he's all kinds of ready to go. Luckily she only recommends it once every 3 days!

jesselayne8

messymolly08 said:

@jesselayne8 Lolol I feel you. But now I'm stuck because guess who was at the appointment with me? Yea, he's all kinds of ready to go. Luckily she only recommends it once every 3 days!

Oh noes!!!!!!

countryrhodes90

My ob recommends starting at 37 weeks. I plan to start around week 38 or so.

mimigrace12

messymolly08 said:

I asked my midwife about it today and she said she doesn't personally recommend it because it's expensive and makes little to no difference. She recommended sex instead <:-P </p>

I asked my doc about it yesterday after reading this, he said the same thing