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2nd time moms! Anyone tried Castor Oil?

jen_jupiterjen_jupiter
in 3rd Trimester
A fellow nurse suggested I try castor oil to get things going.  I thought this was just an old wives tail, but she and her sister both had their babies within 6hrs of taking it.  I've done some internet research and there are mixed feelings about it, but I'm wondering if any of you have used it or known anyone who has.  I'm getting pretty desperate here!!!
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Re: 2nd time moms! Anyone tried Castor Oil?

  • NicoleR524NicoleR524 member
    i'm a first timer and just had some today.  nothing doing.  but my cousin swears that it put her into labor with two of her kids.  there's lots of strong opinions on it. 
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  • Butterbean52Butterbean52

    LOL, that's "Old Wives' TALE" - as in, story.

    Yes I tried castor oil w/ #1 and it did absolutely nothing except make me uncomfortable. I don't recommend it. 

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  • jessaug6jessaug6
    I took it right before bed, and the next day we had our LO. We're going to try it again this time around. If not, it will def help if your backed up! Because I was until I delivered and it was soo uncomfortable.
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  • kemeshiwarkemeshiwar member
    If you ask my mom, she'll tell you "I don't care what doctors say, castor oil works! I took 2 doses and had your brother a few hours later!" HAHA, sorry, no personal experience myself though.
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  • RitaT22RitaT22 member
    First time mom but I wouldn't try it. I've read all it does is give you the runs, and can possibly make LO have a bowel movement. Reason enough for me not to try it!
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  • Mayoral04Mayoral04

    imageRitaT22:
    First time mom but I wouldn't try it. I've read all it does is give you the runs, and can possibly make LO have a bowel movement. Reason enough for me not to try it!

    This is what I keep reading as well. 

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  • totallyshockedtotallyshocked member
    Please dont try it!! It may not work and is more common to make baby produce bowel movement. If LO inhales it they can get very sick........ basically causes pneumonia in their lungs which can be fatal. Im anxious too but a healthy baby 2 weeks later is much better than a sick one
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  • LexnlinzLexnlinz

    Both my best friend and my sister tried the castor oil within a week of their due dates and they both went in to labor by the next day. I will definitely keep it in mind!

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  • 2.red.heads2.red.heads member

    doesn't castor oil make you have diarrhea, and the act of 'bearing down' helps you go into labor?  ...seems like you'd have to be pretty much ready for labor for it to work.  so then, if you do go into labor you'll have diarrhea during all of it and if you don't go into labor you'll have diarrhea as well.  

    just thinking out loud......

    i'm pretty sure my mom did it.  can't remember the results.  all 4 of us kids were 2-3 weeks late; i'm sure she was desperate.  

    hang in there! 

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  • jen_jupiterjen_jupiter
    imageMayoral04:

    imageRitaT22:
    First time mom but I wouldn't try it. I've read all it does is give you the runs, and can possibly make LO have a bowel movement. Reason enough for me not to try it!

    This is what I keep reading as well. 

    The thing about this is that you're only supposed to try it if you're past 40 weeks and overdue babies are more likely to have meconium before they're born anyway.  So, they can't really say if it's the castor oil that causes them to have a BM or if LO would've pooped anyway just because he/she has been in there so long and is overdue.  Yes, it is a stimulant laxative though, so it makes you have diarrhea.  The girl that recommended it to me said the symptoms last 1-2hrs and that's also when contractions start.  I'm totally on the fence about this one.  I don't know how bad I want this kid out...if it's worth trying or not.  I really don't want to be induced with Pitocin because I feel like it will decrease my chances of having a natural delivery.  I didn't want to have an epi.  Ugh!

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  • rhythmicgoldfishrhythmicgoldfish

    my OB gave me a very straight forward answer about castor oil when i was pregnant with #1

    A.) yes it can stimulate labor

    B.) not worth it ( the reason that Castor oil stimulates labor is that it causes diarrhea this causes contractions in the muscles of the bowels which CAN cause sympathetic contractions in the uterus if your body is ready)

    my doctor recommended nipple stimulation which can also start labor and though it takes more work it has fewer negative side effects or you could call your OB and request an induction

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