Evening Primrose Oil (EPO)

ashtondavis24 · April 2014

Does anyone have any experience with this? Some people swear by it, a few say it's a total waste of time. I don't want to be taking them for nothing or having my vagina all oiled up for nothing, but if it works, best believe I'm interested!!!

JAM85 · April 2014

Following! My doula has me starting this at 37 weeks since I have to be induced around 39 weeks to try to help soften my cervix. I figure why not- if it helps great, if not eh no harm done.

ashtondavis24 · April 2014

Good to know!!

SurprisePartySue · April 2014

My SIL took one orally daily from 35-37. At 37 she took it 3 times daily until birth. He came the day of his due date and she didn't tear at all.. She never inserted them vaginally just took them orally. So I think it's worth the try. Can't hurt anything.

ashtondavis24 · April 2014

Thank you!!

awc1986 · April 2014

I plan to get some EPO capsules and some red raspberry leaf tea this week, now I'm on mat leave. I don't plan on sticking them up the vajay though. The less interference in that area, the better at the moment.

LabbyLove · April 2014

My midwife recommended 1500 mg three times a day (orally) starting at 36 weeks so that's what I've been doing.

amroke · April 2014

I don't know about it softening the cervix, but I used to take it for PMS and it was awesome (and I am a skeptic). So I definitely believe it's worth trying.

jenb_99 · April 2014

Complete waste of time, money, and pantiliners for me.

I took tons of it starting at week 36 when my OB informed me that I had a long, hard, tightly closed cervix. I don't remember what the recommended dosage was, but I'm pretty sure I at least doubled it. And I took it orally as well as vaginally.

It and the bucketloads of RRL extract capsules I was taking didn't do a dang thing for me. I went on to have three doses of Prostin (Cervidil), 2 doses of Cytotec, and a Pitocin drip, and I still never dilated past a 3.

My cervix just wasn't interested in opening up, and nothing we did could make it. It finally just said "screw you guys" and swelled all the way shut.

shaunamw · April 2014

I did it with my first and Im doing it this time as well. I was told it helps soften the cervix and also helps strengthen the uterus which will help with the recovery. You can get fairly reasonable priced ones at whole foods.

cindythelou · April 2014

I've been drinking red raspberry leaf tea since the second trimester started from the advice of my midwife and plan to start evening primrose oil at 37 weeks. I figure I'll try anything that might make labor progress is a good thing--- especially when recommended by my provider.

oscarwao · April 2014

Anyone who has used EPO vaginally ever had problems with yeast infections? I'm nervous to use it vaginally since the casing is glycerin. Maybe I'm being overly worried though.

jenb_99 · April 2014

kimberlykl2009 said:

Anyone who has used EPO vaginally ever had problems with yeast infections? I'm nervous to use it vaginally since the casing is glycerin. Maybe I'm being overly worried though.

The casing is glycerin? I thought it was gelatin. Huh. No, it didn't cause me any problems except for a crotch that leaked greasy spots on my clothes and smelled like stale fried chicken.

TaylorHam86 · April 2014

I just started taking it orally (34w) in hopes it will help ripen me up so I don't have to be induced. I think mine is 1300 mg. I'll up the dosage as the weeks progress. FTM so no experience but I figure it can't hurt.

oscarwao · April 2014

jenb_99 said:

kimberlykl2009 said:

Anyone who has used EPO vaginally ever had problems with yeast infections? I'm nervous to use it vaginally since the casing is glycerin. Maybe I'm being overly worried though.

The casing is glycerin? I thought it was gelatin. Huh. No, it didn't cause me any problems except for a crotch that leaked greasy spots on my clothes and smelled like stale fried chicken.

Maybe it depends on the brand? Mine lists both glycerin and gelatin as the inactive ingredient

LeeLee86 · April 2014

I've been doing EPO since wk 36 (plus RLT) and I'm 1cm dilated and thinned out now. I would much rather things progress naturally so I'm happy so far.

@Kimberlykl2009 YES! Ugh after 3 days of vaginal insertion. It burned too! Now I take 2 am and 2 pm orally. Sounds weird but Greek yogurt on a pad feels amazing and helps clear the yeast infection quickly.

NorthernGal248 · April 2014

Mine are 900 each, I take 3 at night. I have been doing this since the middle of my second trimester. My midwife is more than fine with it - IDK whats going on down there right now but I'm not in labor even tho I have been taking it for so long.

springbeduk2 · April 2014

I'm taking it - just orally. My midwives said to start at 36 weeks and said it's to make sure your body has essentially the "building blocks" necessary to make the prostaglandins for cervical changes but that it won't cause anything on its own or make your body do anything it isn't ready for anyway. It's just to make sure your progression isn't limited by missing nutrients. So that sounded good. The one I'm taking hasn't caused smelly burps or anything else unpleaseant (knock on wood!) I guess I need to call on Monday and double check the dose though as I'm only taking 1000 mg a day because I couldn't remember how much she said to take and last week's check-up was with a doc in the practice instead of a midwife and she just said "I don't know anything about that" when I asked.

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Evening Primrose Oil (EPO)

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