EPO

choppinbroccoli22 · November 2012

My midwife recommended 2000 mg per day at my 36 week appt today. She admits the research isn't there, but she says in her experience, she doesn't have a lot of 42-weekers who take EPO.

I delivered DD at 39 weeks, 3 days without any sort of supplements.

Looking for downsides, I read this study's abstract. No, it's not the best study design, but none of the studies available on the topic look like randomized controlled studies. ;p

Really doesn't look like a great idea to me from what I can find. If you take EPO, what convinced you to try it? If you took it for a previous birth, do you think it helped, or not? Any negative side effects that you noticed?

Thanks!

nanabanana06 · November 2012

I take 2 capsules by mouth in the morning. Going to start vaginal pills at night this week. However, with DD I didn't do any of this stuff and had a terrible induction experience which ended in a C/S due to "failure to progress". With this baby I've done with the RRL and EPO supplements and have lots of "pre labor" signs. So I think they are working. Honestly, I am doing anything to get this baby to come on it's own before my due date. I don't want to be staring at another C/S.

It doesn't harm the baby in any way. So why not? It's more of an "all natural" thing, so lots of doctors and things seem very iffy on them. However, these are the same docs who would rather you take a Zantac than try Papaya Seed supplements.

perfectlove09 · November 2012

Nana_Osaki06:
I take 2 capsules by mouth in the morning. Going to start vaginal pills at night this week. However, with DD I didn't do any of this stuff and had a terrible induction experience which ended in a C/S due to "failure to progress". With this baby I've done with the RRL and EPO supplements and have lots of "pre labor" signs. So I think they are working. Honestly, I am doing anything to get this baby to come on it's own before my due date. I don't want to be staring at another C/S. It doesn't harm the baby in any way. So why not? It's more of an "all natural" thing, so lots of doctors and things seem very iffy on them. However, these are the same docs who would rather you take a Zantac than try Papaya Seed supplements.

Totally off topic but what do papaya seeds do? I've been living on Zantac and didn't think there was a more natural remedy!

nanabanana06 · November 2012

perfectlove09:
Nana_Osaki06:
I take 2 capsules by mouth in the morning. Going to start vaginal pills at night this week. However, with DD I didn't do any of this stuff and had a terrible induction experience which ended in a C/S due to "failure to progress". With this baby I've done with the RRL and EPO supplements and have lots of "pre labor" signs. So I think they are working. Honestly, I am doing anything to get this baby to come on it's own before my due date. I don't want to be staring at another C/S. It doesn't harm the baby in any way. So why not? It's more of an "all natural" thing, so lots of doctors and things seem very iffy on them. However, these are the same docs who would rather you take a Zantac than try Papaya Seed supplements.
Totally off topic but what do papaya seeds do? I've been living on Zantac and didn't think there was a more natural remedy!

It's papaya something, I want to say seeds. However, it helps cure heartburn. It's a more natural way than Tums or Zantac. You can get the papaya supplements at the health food or supplement store.

ETA it's papaya enzyms. Just looked at my bottle Stick out tongue

mama2many · November 2012

I'm with Nana - I think it absolutely helps reduce time & increase pre-labor (thereby strengthening uterus, etc). My first two babies were 18 & 12 hr active labors. My last two were 4hrs & 2hrs (both vbacs). I see no negative side effects unless you count the mild to moderate contractions that you start having a couple weeks before the real thing.

MrsBigTime · November 2012

Nana_Osaki06:
perfectlove09:
Nana_Osaki06:
I take 2 capsules by mouth in the morning. Going to start vaginal pills at night this week. However, with DD I didn't do any of this stuff and had a terrible induction experience which ended in a C/S due to "failure to progress". With this baby I've done with the RRL and EPO supplements and have lots of "pre labor" signs. So I think they are working. Honestly, I am doing anything to get this baby to come on it's own before my due date. I don't want to be staring at another C/S. It doesn't harm the baby in any way. So why not? It's more of an "all natural" thing, so lots of doctors and things seem very iffy on them. However, these are the same docs who would rather you take a Zantac than try Papaya Seed supplements.
Totally off topic but what do papaya seeds do? I've been living on Zantac and didn't think there was a more natural remedy!
It's papaya something, I want to say seeds. However, it helps cure heartburn. It's a more natural way than Tums or Zantac. You can get the papaya supplements at the health food or supplement store.
ETA it's papaya enzyms. Just looked at my bottle

Papaya enzymes are the reason I've been able to stay off meds for my heartburn. I've tried to spread the word, they are awesome!

calico61979 · November 2012

My FIL turned us on to papaya enzymes. They are good for digestive health in general because as an enzyme, it breaks down the food. If I have a sour stomach it can often help me feel better as well.

minervacullen · November 2012

I've been taking 1000mg orally. So far I've only used it vaginally once. It kinda weirded me out. I'm going to do it every other or every three nights, I can suck it up I suppose.

Also, I've just been sold on papaya. Off to health store today. Maybe I will be able to sleep at night.

lyndsihutson · November 2012

Well I'm a ftm but I started at 36 w after my first internal..I know means nothing! but then I was still high and not dialated.. 6 days later at 2nd internal I was fingertip and 50. Yesterday I was 1 cm and 80. Basically I've taken 2000 mg to soften because if I have to be induced which I am tomorrow due to elevated swelling at bp then I will have softened mostly on my own and progress with the meds instead of a csection. My dr told me that if I go in with a ripe cervix my chances are higher to birth vaginally!

StefandTodd · November 2012

I took it with my first, both orally and vaginally. I think orally at 36 weeks and started vaginally at 38. I've only been taking 1500 mg orally so far this pregnancy b/c my labor with my first was only 10 hours and started on it's own at 40+1, so I feel confident in my body's ability to do what it needs to do and especially for a second baby, I'm a little nervous to give myself too much of a "push", lol. Everyone thinks a super fast labor sounds so awesome, but I would LOVE another 10 hour labor...and my doula thinks I'm probably looking at about 4 =/

Anyway. I think it works. I won't have any internals this time, but with my last baby, I was very soft at 36 weeks, and dilated to 2 by 38. I stayed dilated to 2, very soft, and effaced quite a bit until 40 weeks and went into labor that night. 10 hours and 20 minutes of pushing later, had a healthy baby boy on my chest. I actually may start vaginal EPO at 39 weeks...haven't decided yet...

BrittanyDoesDerby · November 2012

I'm a FTM, but I started taking it at 36 weeks and started vaginally at 37. I take two 1000mg orally and one vaginally at bedtime. My cervix has been soft and high since 37 weeks, but I was only dilated to 1cm at 39 weeks.

I'm just hoping that when it comes to go time, it helps things go more quickly

choppinbroccoli22 · November 2012

Thanks all for the feedback. I may give it a try after all... have to look and see if I can find a brand of it that I like.

Anyone take some with no (usually GMO) soy in it that they'd like to share the name of?

Also, the papaya...!! My H suffers from heartburn frequently. He tried a medicine once, but hates taking medicine, and didn't like that it disposes you to worse heartburn once you get off it. So he does Tums, and keeps them in a high cabinet. Our daughter knows them as "Dada....Eew, blah". I'd love to try him on papaya enzyme and get those candy-looking things out of our house! Do you get that at a natural foods store, or just go online?

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