Would I benefit from castrol oil?

Question

I am dialated alittle less than 2cm and I want to have this baby out NOW!!!! (I'm a week late, and I know that's not much, but it's enough!) I don't always feel that I can talk to my doctor, and I don't want to ask him to induce me..and I heard that hospital inductions cause more pain in labor. Someone told me that if you are already dialated that castrol oil will help bring on contractions..

Answer 1

Castor oil has never worked for anyone I have known that has tried it , except that it put them painfully on the toilet...fun!

Answer 2

I completely sympathize with you! I gained about 60lbs with my first, and was 5 very uncomfortable days overdue. Even though we all know babies do eventually come in their right time, those last few days can seem like forever when you are huge and hormonal!

I had 2 natural births with the only intervention being to break my water. I never used Castor oil, because it sounded yucky and didn't seem to have great results. I think sex or nipple stimulation are better ways to induce contractions, however your body won't continue labor until its ready to.

Being that you are less than 2 cm dilated I would take a different approach. The last thing you want to do is induce labor esp. artificially with pitocin, when your cervix is not ripe and barely dilated. The best way to ripen a cervix is with evening primrose oil. They come in gel caps and you can find them at your local health food or supplement store. Take them orally as well as internally... Basically you insert the EPO in your vagina (make sure hands are clean) just like using an OB tampon. Get it as close to your cervix as possible. The easiest time to do this is just before you lay down to rest. Put a pad on because while the oil soaks your cervix, the remainder will come out.

A ripened cervix will dilate faster and more smoothly. Its less likely to get irritated from the pressure of contractions and the baby's weight.

Also, I know this sounds insane, but I swear anxiety and stress really work against the whole labor process. You'll probably go into labor when you give up and let nature take its course. Its usually when you stop focusing on why you are yet in labor that it begins. So relax, get plenty of rest and eat well.... You'll need all your energy to get that baby out and get through those first few tiring weeks anyways!

Answer 3

First, the drugs used to induce labor DO cause more painful contractions than natural contractions. The contractions are abnormal, coming faster and much harder and longer than normal. Not only is this more painful but it is also much harder on the baby! The baby is getting less of a break during contractions, same as you. For the baby it is more serious since strong contractions temporarily reduce oxygen to the uterus. This is why so many women who get pitocin (or even worse, Cytotec) end up with C/S for fetal distress. And of course, with the more painful contractions more drugs for pain are given, further compromising the baby! So you are right to want to avoid induction if possible.

(You can read more on risks of induction at
http://www.midwiferyservices.org/infoforparents.htm#induction )

Castor oil WILL work, but (and its a big but) only if your body and the baby are ready. It's worth a shot. I went almost 3 weeks late with my third. I did castor oil three times. It worked the last time. (If it is going to work it ususally works within 24 hours.)

Good luck
Claudine Crews CPM, LM

Answer 4

Castor oil is said to bring on labor-but I don't recommend it because if your body isn't ready (and how could we be sure) it can cause you serious discomfort.
And I have to disagree with the other poster about "being induced is no more painful than not being induced."
I HAVE been induced, and trust me, it is definitely more painful. The drip that they put you on makes your contractions come on full force, and they are more intense and painful than contractions that are not chemically induced. Not only that, but your body doesn't experience the "building up gradually" of the intensity of pain and times in between, so you feel it more because your body's own chemicals that it would normally release to help you deal with pain don't have time to catch up.
Go for a long walk-the movement, exercise, and weight of the baby pushing down helps.
Have sex-the activity and "internal massage" help. Doctors used to massage a cervix by hand years ago to help bring about labor. There is even a chemical in semen that is supposed to help start contractions.

Answer 5

Caster Oil was the the old way of inducing labor, before Oxy was introduced. It does hurt more, if a doctor induces labor ... I've had it done, twice. With my third pregnancy, which was also two weeks over-due (I think all three would STILL be in me, if they weren't induced ... lol) I mixed 250ml of Caster Oil with half a glass of orange juice ... I believe most take 500ml of Caster Oil, but I was too chicken to take that much.

Any way, I took the mixture at around 6:00 pm, my contractions started at 10:00pm ... and I stayed awake all night (not because of painful contractions ... only cause I was sooo excited). I woke my hubby at 6:00am and went to the hospital. I was already dilated 4cm. The doc broke my water at 10:00am ... to intensify my contractions, as they were sooo mild, and HOLY CRAP ... I dilated from 4cm to 10cm in under ONE hour. My son was born at 11:10am.

So, yes ... it does work, if the baby is ready. If not .. the worst that'll happen is you getting a serious case of diarrhea.

BTW: Congratulations!! ... let us know what you have?!

Answer 6

All castor oil does is make you poop and dehydrate you. Yes you will contract, but that will be from dehdration, and once you are hydrated they will go away. I know many people have used castor oil to "induce" labor, but it's not recomended.

As for hospital inductions being more painful, that's not true either. Labor is labor. Your body naturally produces oxytocin when you are contracting. When you are induced, the hospital is just giving it to you thru an IV to make you contract. People say it's more painful becuase it generally puts you into active labor faster than you might have on your own. But again, labor is labor, and strong contractions are needed to help your cervix dilate so you can have the baby. Most doctors now will induce when you get to you due date, try asking him.

Answer 7

Try asking your doctor to loosen your membranes, that did it for me, I also drank 4tbs of Castor oil that same night though. My labor was 2 hours long and my son shot right out. If your a week late then I would do something, that baby is getting bigger and bigger by the day and if your afraid of pain then there is nothing worse then pushing out a 10 pound baby. Congratulations, and Good luck hun

Answer 8

Caster oil can help bring on a labour. Yes and induction can be more traumatic but my first son was 2 weeks late and none the worse. Just be patient and wait I can guarantee that when you go into labour you will wish it would wait a while longer

Answer 9

Your Doctor would know whats best for the baby, or, the baby itself will know "when" its time for it to emerge...

I know that "Motherhood" is not a great thing "until" the baby is "out", but, you have to wait until its the proper time for everything to come together...

Dont be in a rush, because you will have 18+ years to raise this child..(some NEVER leave home :)...

I wish you well..

Jesse

Answer 10

I've heard that too but what do you do with it?
Sex with orgasm works for making the contractions come along.