What is Castor Oil?

Question

How does it work? Does it really make you go into labor? Can your doctor tell if you have taken any?

Answer 1

Castor oil is a vegetable oil obtained from the castor bean (technically castor seed as the castor plant, Ricinus communis, is not a member of the bean family).

Castor oil has a long history of being used by women and their providers to encourage the onset of labor. It is thought to act in one of several possible ways. By creating strong and spasmodic cramps of the intestines (which lie around and above the uterus at the end of pregnancy) it might cause a reflexive cramping and spasms of the uterine muscle, which might then turn into labor. It might work by having a dehydrating effect, and thereby causing uterine irritability from dehydration, and then labor ensues. It might stimulate the release of prostaglandins from the inflammation of the intestines. Or it may have no real connection to the onset of labor at all, and be merely an unpleasant placebo, and the reported effects simply coincidence, since most women who take it are at the end of pregnancy anyhow and will eventually go into labor.

The effectiveness of castor oil to encourage the onset of labor is questionable. It is generally considered safe, although there are some who believe that it increases the risk of meconium passage in the infant. It has not been well studied, which is surprising considering how long this old remedy has been in use. It seems to be relatively safe, although there is concern that if it does in fact work to induce labor, does it carry the risks of other methods of induction? (These risks include fetal distress from too strong contractions, increased risk of uterine rupture especially in a scarred uterus, unintentional prematurity of the baby, increased pain level for the mom, and a few other risks). Are the benefits such that the risks are outweighed? I would suggest that any pregnant woman who is considering trying to induce her own labor by this or any other method, including herbs, be sure that her baby is ready to be born. Sometimes there are reasons why labor does not start when we think it should, including a baby that hasn't gotten into a good position to be born from. I also highly recommend that the pregnant woman consult with her prenatal and birth care provider (midwife or doctor) in advance of trying this.

Castor oil has a very unpleasant taste and texture. There are many recipes for disguising this. There is also a commercially prepared emulsified form with a peppermint taste. The recommended dosage for encouraging labor ranges from 1 TBS to 4 OZ, depending on who you talk to about it. Some use a single dose, others repeat the doses. Methods of disguising the taste include mixing it with root beer and ice cream, sucking on an ice cube first, making a slurpy with juice, crushed ice and the castor oil in a blender, adding baking soda, adding vodka, and combinations of all the above. I am not going to give specific recipes or proportions, because I really think that you should talk to your midwife or doctor first, and follow their advice.

If you take castor oil, expect to develop severe diarrhea and cramps when it kicks in. Uterine contractions often follow, and occasionally develop into labor. Hopefully the last of the castor oil will be expelled before the time comes to push out the baby, and the diarrhea won't have made you too sore for comfortable pushing. Bedtime is a common time when people take this, but then you might end up in the bathroom all night, and be tired if labor starts in the daytime. One person I know suggests setting your alarm for 4 in the morning, taking the dose, and then going back to sleep until the cramps start.

Answer 2

Castor oil just gives you intestinal cramps and the sh*ts. There are no findings that it actually causes you go into labor.

From the first guys link:

NOTE: Please be aware that use of castor oil orally will result in some unpleasant side effects. Diarrhea, nausea and vomiting are common in castor oil inductions and are not only uncomfortable during labor but can cause the mother to become dehydrated. Be sure the mother who tries this is drinking enough fluids. Some experts recommend using an enema, which they feel will give the similar results with less discomfort.

Answer 3

Castor oil is a no-no when you are pregnant. If you really, really want to go into labor a little early.....do it the right way, ask your doc for an ultrasound to make sure your little baby is big enough (If you are less than 37 weeks, they may suggest an amnio to be sure your baby's lungs are working) to come out. Then ask for your membranes to be stripped.....within 3 days of stripping you should go into labor, especially if this isn't your 1st baby. But remember- there is a reason we are pregnant as long as we are pregnant- our baby needs every day in our womb to develop his little system for life on the "outside".

Answer 4

Castor oil is a vegetable oil obtained from the Castor bean (technically Castor seed as the Castor plant, Ricinus communis, is not a member of the bean family).

It is used to ease constipation and as an emetic to induce vomiting. Consumption of large amounts of Castor oil (below lethal doses, such as one bottle) can induce labor in near-term pregnant women.

Do tell your doctor if you used Castor oil to try to induce labor on your own since it can cause the baby to pass meconium inutero. Good luck.

Answer 5

It is a laxative. Yes it can put you in labor, but it does not work for everybody. No, your doctor can not tell. It will give you the runs though, so don't eat before taking it. I took it with my first son, and I went into labor the same night. My sister took it 3 times, and it never did anything for her. My sister in law is a respiratory therapist, and spoke to a doctor for me first, to make sure it was safe for the baby, and he said it was.

Answer 6

I don't know how it was supposed to work, but it did. I took it the night before I delivered. I put a teaspoon in a milkshake. It masked the taste, but you could still feel the oily texture.
I told my doctor I took it.
It is supposed to be a laxative, but I didn't have that problem. I didn't go at all. Of course, it could be why I didn't know I was having contractions-I thought I had to go to the bathroom!

Answer 7

castor oil is nasty stuff! it tastes disgusting and it cleans your body out fast. it gives you diahreah and cramps. it can make you go into labor but it can also make the baby have a bowel movement inside you. it can make the both of you very sick. yes your doctor can tell. i wouldn't suggest taking it, there are too many health risks for you and the baby.

Answer 8

i didn't take it but my friend did and it didn't work for her....you can ask your doctor to scrape your membrane, the doctor did that for me and i went into labor 4 hours later, and my friend the doctor did that for her and she went into labor 8 hours later

Answer 9

its very gross!! I would nt recommend using this at all labor will happen on its own let nature take its course

Answer 10

It doesn't work for all women. All it really does it give you the hershey squirts and stomach cramps.
Talk to your doc about it.