I know that it's common for OB/GYN's to telll women how drinking castor oil and other 'old wives tales' can be dangerous for their babies. So why would you be in such a hurry to not be pregnant that you are willing to risk harm to your baby?
2006-06-17 19:19:02 · 14 answers · asked by butterfli 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
It is a common myth that castor oil can induce labor. What does castor oil definitely do? Induce diarrhea. There is a slight chance that castor oil could increase your chances of going into labor. Be ready to let some other stuff loose during delivery though. The other problem, it may give the baby diarrhea. This can go into the amnotic fluid and cause respiratory problems if your baby ends up “breathing” it in. Not only does it affect the respriatory system, but can give your baby a green tint at birth. This green tint is fecal matter.
Even if there is a chance it will help induce labor, do your doctor and your unborn child a favor. Don’t do it! If you want to go into labor try an excerise ball, try walking, or try having sex (though you may need to be a gymanist to get this one to happen that late in pregnancy). Stick with these tried and true methods. Leave the old wives tales where they belong, as tales.
waitingonbaby.com
2006-06-23 13:23:20 · update #1
By the way, I am currently in my third pregnancy, and I know why women are tired of being pregnant, I just want to know why it overrides the maternal instinct to protect her young from harm.
2006-06-23 13:33:38 · update #2
Because it is unlikely to hurt either mother or baby *and* the doctor is often threatening her with a knife!! So she prefers to do something that has an extremely low chance of harming her or her baby over something that is guaranteed to harm her and willl probably hurt the baby, too.
I have a friend, for instance, who was 4 weeks "late" with her first baby; her doctor induced her, but her body wasn't ready to give birth, so she ended up with a cesarean. Her second baby was born 5 weeks past her due date (and she knew the exact date she conceived, so it wasn't that her dates were wrong) naturally. This was many years ago. Today, most doctors won't "let" a woman go more than 1-2 weeks past their due dates. Her babies would have been born premature and had huge health risks!!
But doctors ignore the fact that women are individuals and threaten them with a choice between having a sick baby (which they can't even cause) and being cut open if they aren't "average". And many women go on believing that the doctor "saved my baby".
2006-06-17 20:37:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
when I was pregnant with both of my girls, I drank castor oil.. It does not hurt the baby at all, (according to my doctor), but it will keep you in the bathroom for the next 6 hours :) The first time I drank it, it actually worked, my daughter was here 2 days later (24+ hours of labor), but with my second daughter it didnt. When I told my doc what I had done at my next appointment, he just laughed and said "well I guess it didnt work huh". The reasons behind wanting to induce labor vary from pregnancy to pregnancy. With my first, I was just sick of being pregnant, with my 2nd, I was in alot of pain (she was sitting too low, and cutting off the blood supply to my legs resulting in what felt like pinced nerves in my inner thighs) Most women (not all) will try herbal or natural things to induce labor, castor oil, walking, etc which is not harmful to the baby. Others do try things which are harmful, and I dont agree with that. I feel that as long as it wont hurt the baby, try away... If he/she is ready it will work, if he/she is not, it wont.
2006-06-18 02:41:09 · answer #2 · answered by awnya_nirvelli 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First as you said...they are old wives tales! I tried the Castor oil with my first pregnancy, sent me to the bathroom for a day or two...gave me horrible cramps but still NO BABY....lol! This is how I see it , I have had five pregnancies, some women are not thinking as much of the baby as they should be I think, they are just thinking of there own misery and I know it can be! Some women are just not well enough informed about the consequences of preterm baby! I had one healthy child and three premature births..... lots of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit time!!! One of the children were not even suppose to come home.... thank God ...she is 5 now :-) mothers to be are just not well enough informed!
2006-06-18 02:30:44 · answer #3 · answered by Mimi 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is because they get uncomfortable , irritable, irritated and in a hurry. After you hit so many weeks, it can be painful and you just want any positive ideas to get it over with.
Especially when you go overdue. Most people are looking for ways that will not harm their babies(walking, sex, exercise) and not castor oil.
I went to 42 weeks with my 4th baby and I was miserable. It was 95 degrees. I was hot, tired, in pain, irritable and the baby was past due coming. I would have walked 20 miles a day if it would have guaranteed labor. As it was, she came the 14 day past the due date and was almost 10 pounds!
2006-06-18 02:26:53 · answer #4 · answered by Jen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it has to do a lot with the invention of the home pregnancy tests because women are finding out so early that by 35 weeks they feel like they have been pregnant forever. Women sometimes back in the old days didn't even know they were pregnant until they were 3-4 months along. I wish that women would not rush it because they don't realize how dangerous it is for the baby to be born early. My son was a preemie and almost died.
2006-06-18 02:26:21 · answer #5 · answered by Ryan's mom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any doctor would never, ever tell patient to drink castor oil. If you are pregnant this old wives tale could flush your system of needed nutrients and your baby too. And any doctor advising castor oil to pregnant women probably has a big bill, webbed feet and says Quack!!!!
Not to offend anyone, but if a doctor advised a patient to drink castor they should be reported to th AMA.
2006-07-01 23:24:58 · answer #6 · answered by Joyce D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have heard that some of the ways to induce labor at home can actually cause complications ..... just let nature take it's course. When your baby is ready it will come.
2006-06-30 13:10:39 · answer #7 · answered by jachooz 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever been pregnant? If so, you'd know why. The last month of pregnancy (especially the last two weeks) are horrible. You just want the baby OUT. (and my first one was a week late..oy vey!)
Everything hurts..your feet hurt, your legs hurt, your hips hurt, your abdomen hurts, you're EXHAUSTED, you're hormonal and pissy...it's just a bad time. Plus, there's the whole wait and see game. You've waited so long to meet your baby, and now you really want to meet her!
2006-06-18 15:24:32 · answer #8 · answered by brevejunkie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
castor oil doesn't harm your baby, and have you been pregnant? if you have than u'd know that the last weeks of pregnancy you feel like compleate shi t you can't sleep your sore you can bearly walk you get pains every where!! and ur just ova it and want it out
2006-06-18 04:18:28 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are ways to induce labor without hurting ur baby some r fun
2006-06-18 02:24:25 · answer #10 · answered by doug and heather 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋