Evening Primrose Oil?

NYGrlAtHeart

It says online to start taking them orally at 34 weeks. Did anyone else do this? IDK why but for some reason I am freaked about it!

sunflowergrl

My MW told me today to wait until I'm at least full term.  She said at 37 weeks I could start taking them 3 a day. 

minda31807

No, not with my first and I won't with this one either. Either my body will go into labor on its own or I'll be induced at around 42 weeks.  Why waste time on OWT. 

Evening Primrose Oil and Red Raspberry Leaf Tea

Neither will actually induce labor. While some lay midwives will argue that statement about the Evening Primrose, which is the reason it is not recommended until 36 weeks or "full term", almost all sources with experience agree that it does nothing that the body was not ready to do on its own. I will repeat this at the end of this section, to make sure you understand this, as there is a lot of confusion and misconception surrounding these two substances.

Evening primrose oil is an excellent source of prostaglandins, which we already determined readies your cervix for labor. It can be taken orally as soon as 34 weeks, and can be applied directly to the cervix at full term (36 weeks). The general recommendation is two 500mg capsules per day until week 38, at which time you increase to 3-4 per day. The entire capsule can be inserted vaginally (inserted just before bed, it will dissolve before the first time you wake to use the bathroom), or you can use the oil on your fingers for your perineal massage, then also rub on your cervix (assuming you can reach it). Applying directly to the cervix is optimal, but the beneficial ingredients are absorbed through the external skin or the stomach also.

Red raspberry leaf tea is a uterine tonic used by Native Americans for thousands of years. It tones your uterus by helping to "focus" your Braxton Hicks contractions. Think of its job as helping your uterus do more effective exercising while you are pregnant. It does not "cause" contractions and can be safely used throughout pregnancy. It is contraindicated for those having complications "just in case", however, by most doctors who do not understand its use. Many women safely use it from the moment they learn they are pregnant at six weeks until months after delivery. (It helps to tone the uterus after delivery as well, shrinking it back to size more quickly and reducing bleeding.)

Again, neither of these actually causes labor to start!

https://www.maternitycorner.com/mcmag/articles/preg0007.html

 

 

 

diamondcks

I'm planning to try it.  The midwife that taught our birth class said not to use it until 40 weeks, but I'll probably try and take it earlier, maybe 38 weeks, the most it will do is soften the cervix.

vernab

I read that too, it does seem early.  I know it's highly unlikely that it's really going to do any good at all but it still makes me nervous.  I might wait until 36 weeks.