Castor oil, your thoughts

USCgirl · February 2010

What are your ladies thoughts on using castor oil to help induce labor? I am debating about it if LO doesn't come by this weekend. Before I do anything I will talk with my OB, but just wanted to see what your ladies thoughts are.

SarahCM · February 2010

i think it just clears out your bowels. Not sure if it helps with labor.

pdxjenn · February 2010

NO NO NO

Unless you want to be on the toilet with crampy diarhea and STILL not in labor...

shotzie · February 2010

Definitely talk it over with your OB. I would never use castor oil, I've heard so many horror stories on here about it! Sounds like you just get horrible diarrhea, risk getting dehydrated, and probably don't end up in labor when all is said and done! Walk and have lots of sex instead!

baby_soon_31 · February 2010

pdxjenn:
NO NO NO

Unless you want to be on the toilet with crampy diarhea and STILL not in labor...

have never tried it myself, but this sounds right on the money... i personally wouldn't dare....

Shari 86 · February 2010

I thought about doing this also. However then my doctor told me about how it may start contraction but not send you into full labor. When you take it , it may still cause LO to have meconium which will lead to a whole host of other issues.

lpstl · February 2010

I know a couple people it's worked for. I'd try it before giving up and having a medical induction.

ArmyWife123 · February 2010

i asked my OB about it yesterday and she said absolutely not. Everyone kept telling me to do it so I was seriously considering it this weekend since ill be 40 weeks tomorrow. My OB said that she has only seen it work in a positive way when the person was already dilating properly (ive been 1 cm for 3 weeks so thats definitely not me). Even then she said every body handles things differently and for some people all the oil does is cause lots of diarrhea and throwing up which leads to dehydration (which does technically cause contractions, but also puts added stress on mom and baby).

definitely ask your OB about it tho, i was told that a lot of them dont mind it...?

jodiferg · February 2010

I took it with my first. It worked, but I CANNOT begin to tell you how sick I was. Not worth it in my opinion.

Mrs_Springbride · February 2010

my friend did this, just gave her MAJOR diarrhea. no thanks!

Hip2Bsquare · February 2010

Castor oil should never be used with your OB's approval or at the least make them aware. Castor will most likely NOT work if you your self are not ready to go into labor. If your body and baby is not ready than no natural induction method will work i.e. walking, lots of sex, castor oil, spicy food

I love how women come on here and expect to go into labor ON their due date and start taking drastic measures because they are 3 past due! If you haven't seen the debates....a Caucasian woman will most likely on average go into labor 8 days AFTER their due date with her first baby! For those who can't count that is 41 weeks and 1 day....after that I might CONSIDER castor oil.....mmmmmkay

jenirvt · February 2010

I have no idea why anyone would want to take castor oil, regardless if it works or not. Labor is enough to deal with without having uncontrollable diarrhea and vomiting all over the place during it. This is what castor oil will do. It causes diarrhea, and the cramping from the diarrhea could stimulate uterine contractions, which is supposed to be how it "works" to induce labor in some women.

OR, it could just give you horrible diarrhea and vomiting and you still won't go into labor.

I don't get why women can't just be patient and wait....the baby will come when he or she is ready. I didn't deliver my DD until I was almost 2 weeks past my due date. I had no issues with waiting...I knew she'd come when she was ready....I don't understand the "need" to force LO out before your body is ready.

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