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3rd Trimester
How is Mineral Oil different than Castor?
Both are laxatives. The pharmacy closest to us doesn't have Castor Oil but they have Mineral Oil. Anyone know if Mineral Oil will do the same thing as Castor?
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Re: How is Mineral Oil different than Castor?
Mineral oil is a byproduct from the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline from crude oil. Do you really want to drink that????
Additionally it has potentially harmful effects on the lungs if accidentally aspirated. AND....it temporarily coats the intestines and prevents the uptake of certain essential vitamins and nutrients.
Gross!
*Edit...forgot to mention that some mineral oils (well...most) are carcinogens.
I think - but I could very well be wrong:
Castor oil is a stimulant but mineral oil is more like a lubricant. Mineral oil will simply make the stool more slippery so that it can pass down easier. Not to be confused with a stool softner which enables the stool to absorb more water making it pass easier as well. Castor oil on the other hand since it is a stimulant gives a more complete evacuation - but much much harsher on your stomach.
Hope I helped.
ETA: I don't think most people will even realize why you are asking this by the way (again, I could be wrong with my assumption). A lot of people don't know that mineral oil can be used to treat constipation aslo - and it's written directly on the label.
Oh disgusting! Seriously why would they sell that as a laxative??? That would mean people are ingesting it. GROSS!
I wasn't in the pharmacy looking at it, I just called and asked if they had Castor Oil and they said no but they had mineral oil. Apparently it is NOT the same thing!
Gross! Gross! Gross!
Thanks for the info!
I tried to google it but wasn't getting much info on the comparison of the 2.
Got it! And with labor induction you would definitely want the stimulant! haha!
Mineral oil is given to people in nursing homes all the time for constipation, apparently it is more gentle than Castor oil.
Either way, I don't think I'll be doing either and I will carefully screen what nursing home I get put in...
Castor oil is a vegetable oil from the castor bean and it is "generally recognized as safe and effective for an OTC laxative by the FDA".
Castor oil has been used to induce labor....when ingested it triggers cramping in the bowel (making it an effective laxative) and in turn may cause cramping to the uterus. In an overdue pregnancy in which the mother's cervix is already effacing and partially dilated, this cramping can lead to labor contractions.
My MIL who worked for my OB for years, said that they were told NEVER to do this, because if it's making you go #2 then it will make LO go #2 which their #2 can get ingested when they're breathing, and can coat the lungs and be extremly harmful to LO.
Amen to that!