Caster Oil????

Sit in a hot tub, go for a long long walk.
Castor oil will make you miserable.

A hot bath is safer and so is a long long walk.

Good luck

NO NO NO!! I took it and it didn't work! I then had terrible stomach cramping, diarrhea, and was REALLY REALLY REALLY SICK!! I even told my midwife to give out my information to other moms who might be tempted to be so silly! DON'T DO IT!!

I would not suggest the caster oil. My friend did it and lets just say the diarrhea happened all during labor- kind of embarrassing let alone she was pretty sick which made labor worse because she had a hard time concentrating on breathing through the contractions. My suggestion would be a walk and sex. My son was very stubborn (very ironic because with both my girls, I was put on bedrest at 30 weeks because they were SO excited about coming out) and did not want to come out. He was also posterior, so I was getting TONS of back labor which was very painful, but doesn't help with dilating. I tried the walking, doing aerobics, sex, everything I could think of and ended up getting induced as a last resort. I wouldn't recommend it if you can avoid it, but I'm sure it was better than getting sick from caster oil :) Good luck! Keep us updated! :-) Congrats on your little boy!

L.,
I don't have any experience with caster oil.....at least not enough to give you an educated answer...BUT.....my daughter took some when she was 5 days away from her due date. She took it in the morning, and her baby was born about 7 hours later. That may sound great to you right now, BUT....her doctor was NOT happy!!! She just about did not make it to the hospital, because she thought she was just having gas pains from having to move her bowels. She decided she was in labor when the pains were 2 min. apart.
This was not her first baby either. Everything worked out okay, but the doctor was not there, and she almost had the baby in the car!!
I would be just a little careful. Good luck, hun.....enjoy that baby boy whenever he does come along!!

Hey L.,
Congrats and good luck for the next few days! Something way more enjoyable than castor oil is getting a massage. There are certain areas of the body that you are meant to stay away from while pregnant as they can stimulate pressure points that start labour. When I got to the point of wanting my daughter to arrive, I enjoyed a massage and asked her to work on those specific areas (mainly in the feet) and I went into labour the next day. Of course everyone is different and will react differently but I would suggest giving it a go! This can also help your body relax and help you through labour. Good luck!
K.

What can I say about castor oil is that you will only be more miserable than you are now, not in labor. I agree, lots and lots of walking and sex. I walked with each of my kids every night for an hour, walked my older kids to school and back each morning and afternoon, walked around the local track, the neighborhood, to the store when I had a craving, anywhere I could walk at all. My longest labor was 4 1/2 hours. My shortest with #4, 45 minutes start to finish.

I've heard lots going both ways on if that actually works... But My old dr says that in all his 20+ yrs of practice the only thing that consistantly put women into labor was:
Breast stimulation... Like maybe pumping or just some intimate play with your hubby!... Sex is what did it for me (thankfully) congrats on the new addition and good luck with getting things going!

I considered castor oil when I was pregnant, but after talking to my OB I decided against it. She stated that it rarely puts you into labor and if it does, you most likely have diarrhea while delivering. That changed my mind quickly. I did a lot of walking and is was sex that finally put me into labor. Within half an hour from intercourse my contractions were intense.

I didnt read all of your advise but try a foot and ankle massage. There are major nerves in your feet and ankles, it worked for my cousin, plus its a great excuse for it :) Good luck!!!

Hi L.,

I used Castor oil w/ my second and it worked imediately. Sometimes it takes a few tries (and you should wait a few days in between). Anyway, you just mix 2 ounce of Castor Oiol w/ 2 ounces orange juice and drink it. It causes diarhea (explosive!) which starts contractions. It typically takes about 4 hours from the time you drink it.

One thing to keep in mind is that if it works, you might be having diarhea during your labor which is not so fun :).

Keep us posted!

A.

Help Others -> Create Wealth
http://www.GoGiverSuccess.com

Dear L.,
NOOOOOOOO if the pump is not primed and you use castor oil all you will wind up with is uncomfortable upset stomach, unproductive contractions that won't help & NO baby ;0(

The best things are Nipple stimulation, good old sex & walking. Anything that promotes, cervical stimulation, oxytocin release & gravity. These have always worked for me. Hope this helps! G.

Caster oil may very well work but I caution you; you can use it orally or topically but you may end up with an outcome you are NOT looking for. Caster oil can create tentanic contractions--these are fiercely wicked contractions that CAN reach dangerous strengths. Now, of course, this isn't the most common reaction, just one you should know about.

I also want to remind you that being tired of one situation doesn't actually equal being ready for the next. AND just because we moms get tired of our time of increase does not mean our babies are finished preparing for life in the outside world. We want to give our babies every advantage in life, if you can possibly allow yourself to hang in there and treat yourself gently, give your little girl a few more days of individual focus and care (because the birth of your baby does include a SIGNIFICANT change in her life where she's going to be immediately relegated to the back burner as soon as your wee one comes), give yourself a minute to plan out how you're going to include her in the care of your newborn so she doesn't start hating him and acting out to get your attention, let yourself be loved up by hubby before the postpartum hiatus, if you can do that, you'll probably be glad for it in the end. You know, if you can...

Remember, too, that any induction activities work best when you're body is already on the road to delivery anyway...so, do all the fun ways of spurring on labor if you're going to...I'm with the other moms...SEX...you can't lose with that one if you're hubby's any good at it...it's a win win whether or not you induce a baby. :o)

I am 21 weeks pregnant and think yo uare very lucky to be newar the end. I can't wait and I have a long tiem to go still. Just sit back and enjoy some sleep and time with you little girl. Your baby boy will come soon enough.

Make love to your hubby.... it worked for us! My water broke and labor started litterally like 5 minutes after we were done.

Hi L.. Looks like you've gotten enough replies to make a decision, just wanted to share my experience w/you also. My 3 kids are grown now :( But, my DD was 1st. I was 2 weeks over due & miserable. I mixed a small bottle of caster oil w/a glass of O.J. & gulped it down. To this day, I have a hard time w/O.J... My DD is now 23 yrs old. But I took it at 10pm on a Sat nite, was in the bathroom off & on ALL nite, by about noonish the next day, I was told to go to the hosp. I couldn't have been cleaned out any more, lol. That was awful, but it was done before giving birth. I was in 40 hours of labor all together, her cord was wrapped around her neck twice so that didn't help.

It did work for me, but I've since told people that it's not the best way to go. I agree, when they're ready, they come. My 2nd, a Son, was only 12 hours total & not too bad. My baby, a Son, now he's another story. I was in labor for 2 weeks, dilated at 5 for 2 weeks! Then when he was ready, I barely made it to the hosp in time! So, again, they come when they're ready. I had to have my water broken w/the 1st 2 kids, but not w/my youngest, it broke, he came! Lol.

Enjoy this time while you can... Hang in there, it'll happen soon enough. And Congrats! I LUV babies!

Good luck!

Out of the 5 people I know who took caster oil to get their labor going, none of them got their labor going using it and all of them had merconium in the amniotic fluid when their water broke. I personally would not take it.

I know you got this answer a few times but SEX SEX SEX. It helped me for baby #2 and baby #3. My water broke with #3 the next day and unfortunately put me in early labor with #2 and was put on bedrest because of early contractions after sex with #2. Try it and let us know if it works.

Don't do it I know four women that tried it, including myself on my last child. All it does is make you sick, and might give you the runs. Boys tend to be a little late, all three of mine were. my second son was an entire month late, due to stress from a death in the family. Your doctor or midwife have other more affective ways to start labor If it is necessary. My advice is to enjoy the time you have to wait, all to soon you will be experiencing the joys of no sleep, and learning how to cope when both hands are full.

Steer clear of the caster oil! Not worth the end result if you end up sick and uncomfortable. I was a week or so away from my due date and took 'that' day off from work. I ended up taking a nice long walk with our dog. That evening, went out to eat spicy food with the hubby when he got home. At around 10PM, my water broke! Mission accomplished!
Best of luck!

It will work if done correctly. It can be brutal. Have you tried reflexology? Rubbing the spot on your leg that triggers the uterus? Evening Primrose oil...inserted vaginally and taken orally also works. Requires time...

If still interested in doing the caster oil...make sure to fill your stomach. Eat a BIG meal. Stuff yourself! You want your body to have things to push out intially. (sorry to be so graphic!)

Then in a small glass add 4 oz. caster oil with 4 oz. orange juice. Mix that up and add a tsp. baking soda. It is nasty but chug it down. Within a couple of hours you should see results.

Best wishes! It is a tough time...the waiting!! If you can just let the baby come...I recommend that to be the best.

I had a friend who tried it and she said DON'T!! She said she ended up getting so sick and crampy, but the baby stayed put.
Sex didn't work for me with either of my kids, but it works for some. You can also try drinking Raspberry leaf tea or eating pineapple, both of which are said to induce contractions. Nipple stimulation is also said to work. And I've heard walking a lot can trigger it, too. You just have to try a few things and see if any of it works. Good luck!!

Birth goes best when you let it start naturally. Castor oil has been used for ages, but there is some thought that it can cause the baby to have mec which would make the hospital staff think that the baby was in distress, which could lead to all kinds of interventions. I would research it a bit, and really think about it. I understand how you feel because I'm there too right now, but just try to spend the last bit of time enjoying the pregnancy and relaxing taking care of yourself. Rembembe you'll never have this little one inside of you again, try to treasure it.
S.

The only advice the doctor gave me was walking and sex and neither one can hurt ;) I would stay away from anything else unless you've talked to your doctor.

A friend of mine went to an acupuncturist when she was a week late. Just a day or so later she delivered. Good luck!

I had a friend use castor oil, and well... it got everything moving, except her baby... I'm not sure how much she drank, but she has the runs so bad she was miserable. if I were you, I'd try something more fun like foreplay & sex... nipple stimulation... or even accupuncture.

I know it is hard to wait, but just try and relax... get lots of rest, go for long walks.. and try to kind of meditate and visualize your baby's birth. the mind is a powerful machine... and might get your body in the mood.

your baby boy will be here any day now... remember, babies are born on their birthdays not their due dates!

good luck!

My personal opinion on this is, it didn't work for me. I tried it with 2 of 4 and all it was to me was gross. I tried putting it in icecream and juice and that was not fun. Not to mention it didn't work. They tell you to be careful with it too because it could loosen the bowels which could be bad. You can do a lot of walking or if you have stairs you can go up and down a lot on those might help. I wasn't ever lucky enough to start labor on my own. I even had my membraines stripped and that didn't work! As my mom would say, "when it's time the baby will do what it needs to do". I of course didn't listen to her and was induced with all of mine anyway. I actually did go into labor with #2 the night before my induction, but I still went in as planned the next morning not fully knowing it was labor until we got to the hospital. Good luck with everything and I hope it all works out for you. I hope I didn't put a damper on your hopes!

Both my babies were 12 days late so I feel your pain but hang in there! One totally safe thing to try is to walk around the block with one foot on the sidewalk and one in the gutter - you will look goofy but you probably look goofy anyway.

and, as others have said. . .your due date is not set in stone. If your cycles are longer than 28 days your due date will definitely be off. . . . try to give yourself moments of peace where no one is touching you - it won't happen again for a while. . . and remember as uncomfortable as you are now, the baby is much easier to take care of when he's inside than outside!

Don't use castor oil, it will just make you sick and on the off chance you go into labor you will be sick while in labor.
Have sex, go on a long, fast paced walk those helped me.

I have heard that castor oil is unsafe becasue it is toxic. Sex, walking, and nipple stimulation are all excellent and safe methods to encourage labor to happen. Acupressure or acupuncture can help too, if you can find a practitioner in your area I would give it a try. Good luck!

PS I see that someone has recommedend a hot tub or a hot bath, that is NOT safe for your baby. It is recomended that pregnant women stay out of hot tubs and do not overheat themselves.

It worked for me. It also caused a lot of stomach cramping and diarrhea (of course, it is a laxative). I was cleaned out though before the onset of labor. Every woman and every labor is different. Just because it worked (or was horrible) for one person doesn't guarantee the same result for you.

I told my doctor what I did, and she said if I was ready it could work, but if I wasn't it wouldn't.

Good luck!

I wouldn't you will just get crampy and the runs not actually start labor. I guess sometimes the pressure from upset intestines spurns labor for some but do you really want that? Take a walk, eat spicy food and have sex instead :). Hang in Mama I know how difficult those last days are.

When my son was in the NICU I overheard some nurses talking about taking caster oil. One said she had taken it and it did get labor going. The other told her that you should never take it because it can cause really bad bleeding from you uterus after birth.

There are some teas you can get from the healthfood stores that are supposed to induce labor. I think if you ask them they would know what they are. But after listeing to the nurse I wouldn't do it.

L.,
I really like what Regina K had to say. Wise words. Hope you can hear what she's saying. Good luck. I love the Sex idea....and you might really surprise your husband..how fun would that be?

I had a friend who did it twice and it worked. I also had a friend who did it and it turned out to be a huge mess!

You didn't say how many weeks along you are, but I just wanted to give you a pep talk. . . your due date is the midpoint between two weeks on either side when you are technically term. I learned this summer that it's perfectly normal to go past a due date--desirable, even, especially if you're not certain of dates, since Baby knows when he's ready better than any ultrasound or calendar. My third son was born 10 days past his due date this past summer. Yes, I was frustrated, but there was nothing to do but wait, and walk, and eat good spicy food, and have great sex, and go to the movie theatre to take my mind off waiting. I also read a lot of great books, such as "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" and "Birthing From Within" to have good pep talks. My midwife did "stir" me up a bit, which is pretty much like sweeping membranes to see if it triggers the hormonal release that starts labor. The second time she did it, I was in labor a day later.
My midwife told me she hates it when moms self-induce with castor oil because it makes them so sick and wastes their strength. She told me about a mom that had diarrhea so bad in labor from a castor oil induction she was really just pooping uncontrollably with every contraction--how awful to welcome your darling baby in a big pile of poop. . . . and then the mom was so weak she needed to be rehydrated with an IV and didn't feel like holding her baby right away. Doesn't sound worth it, although I empathize with your desperation. ;) Remember, all the moms of premie in the NICU would give anything for just a few more days of being pregnant--there are worse things than a long pregnancy!
The next few days will seem to go by so slowly and then time will speed up to warp speed when this baby comes out and you will reminisce about this pregnancy, I promise. Hang in there!

I remember my mom telling me she tried this. She was sooo crampy and sick after! But no baby. I'd steer clear of it. Yep some randy sex is the way to go! Always worked for me!