does castor oil really work if u have no signs of any labor ?? I'm 39 weeks and two days I'm past my due date

Answer 1

Castor oil has been used to induce labor for many years. Some midwives and doctors alike both use it. However, the number of doctors and midwives advocating its use is slim with the advent of modern medical interventions such as pitocin that is safer and more effective. While pitocin and a hospital induction is arguably safer, castor oil may still be a valid alternative for some women.If you are 40 weeks and showing signs of labor, castor oil may work for you. You will want your cervix to be soft and thinning. If you have begun to dilate and efface already, this will increase your chances of castor oil being effective at labor induction. You should not try castor oil if you have not reached your due date or have a high risk pregnancy. Castor oil almost always causes diarrhea. Its primary use is a stimulant laxative. It has an unpleasant taste and may cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramping. If you do not wish to experience these symptoms, do not try castor oil. Before using castor oil you should consult your health care provider. Castor oil is a laxative. It is believed that castor oil works to stimulate the bowels. It can lead to cramps and tightening of the muscles in the intestines. These cramps may spread to the uterus, tightening the uterine muscles and stimulating contractions. These contractions may or may not lead to the onset of active labor.

Is castor oil safe?
There are conflicting reports on the safety of castor oil. Some reports were shown to show a correlation between meconium in the amniotic fluid and castor oil. However, many others believe that it is more a co-occuring symptom of overdue babies. Castor oil is used most frequently in overdue pregnancies. Since overdue babies have an increased chance of having meconium in the amniotic fluid, many believe the overdue baby is the cause of the meconium and not the castor oil.

Is castor oil effective?

The verdict is still out on castor oil's effectiveness at inducing labor. Some women swear by it. Others feel it is nothing more than an old wives tale and pure coincidence for the women who do go in labor. There have been very few studies on castor oil as used for labor induction. Therefore, the long and short answer to this question is maybe.

How do I use castor oil?

Castor oil can be purchased at most drug stores in the laxative aisle. Opinions on how to use castor oil vary. Most midwives recommend using 2 ounces. You will likely want to mix it with something to make it taste more palatable. Castor oil has an unpleasant oily taste. If you use castor oil, you may want to try one of the following recipes.

Castor oil recipes
Castor oil and orange juice
2 oz castor oil
1 tsp baking soda
6 oz orange juice

Castor oil milk shake
2 oz castor oil
2 or 2 scoops ice cream
1/4 cup milk
blend in blender

Castor oil shots
2 oz castor oil shot followed by sucking on a lime or lemon

Answer 2

If you are 39 weeks and two days, you are not past your due date. Due date is at 40 weeks. I would not recommend using castor oil or in any other way trying to self-induce your labor, unless under the direction of a doctor or nurse-midwife. It's better to let it happen naturally, unless there is a medical reason to induce your labor, which your doctor can help you determine. I am an L&D RN and in my facility we only induce for post-dates past 41 weeks.
Hang in there, your body will decide when it's done with the finishing touches on your baby. Good Luck

Answer 3

DON'T DO IT!!! You will have horrendous cramps and dirrareah like you've never experienced before. I did it and nothing good can come of it. It makes you dehydrate and dehydration can cause contractions. It's at a hefty price because you will be crapping all over the place uncontrollably and it might not work. The best way to induce labor is to run like forrest gump until you go into labor or have wild crazy sex. Oh and also do not get pitocin. Your labor will be far more painful if you do than if you just waited for the baby to come naturally. I've had 3 kids and have used both natural and pitocin. I'm pregnant now and you couldn't pay me enough to take pitocin. Your doctor won't tell you how painful the contractions are and you could be stuck in pain like that for 10 hrs. First time moms who used pitocin have nothing to compare it to but I do. It's far less painful to wait. My first baby was all natural and came at 42 wks and I was only in pain for 2 hrs. My other 2, I used pitocin because I was impatient and I was in extreme pain for half the day or longer. I did it twice because I didn't know it was the pitocin making it so painful. And because of that long labor you will be weaker afterwards. Not worth it. Trust me.

Answer 4

I am one of the silly women that took castor oil for my daughter Amy. Yes it can work...but do you know how??? It is a very heavy laxative and induces diarrhea. Your abdomen starts cramping and you begin running to the restroom. At 39 weeks you are almost there. I wouldn't jeopardize you or your babies welfare by inducing diarrhea. It causes dehydration and by the time it works you are exhausted. Why don't you try good old walking. It would be a lot safer. By the way I went all over my house and the car on the way to the hospital. Just one more reason not to use that stuff. Good Luck

Answer 5

There are reports of castor oil being used to bring on labour as far back as the Egyptians, though how it works is poorly understood. The most commonly given explanation is that it acts as a powerful laxative, and when it stimulates the gut it also stimulates the uterus and so "kick starts" labour

Does it work?
A study of 100 overdue women found that 57.7% began active labour after a single dose of 60ml of castor oil, as opposed to 4.2% who received no treatment. Another small study found that taking castor oil had no adverse affects on mother or baby. Neither study was of a large enough scale to be conclusive.


How do I try it?
This is one we would NOT recommend but, according to a survey of midwives, 4 fl oz of castor oil mixed with orange juice is the usual dose. It is revolting (very oily) to drink though some suggest that making it fizzy by adding ½ teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda helps. A second dose can be given 12 hours later.


Is it safe?
Nausea is likely to be the immediate effect, followed by a bad case of diarrhoea and there is a risk that you will become dehydrated. For this reason, we would NOT recommend taking castor oil.

Answer 6

From personal experience what ever you do don't do Castor oil. All it did was make me sit on the toilet and hold the trash can in front of me. I was 1 week from delivering . My daughter came 3 weeks later 2 weeks over due.That baby will come when it is dang good and ready. Remember that a due date is just a really calulated guess.

Answer 7

No, it doesn't work. When you're given a due date don't expect to actually give birth that day. If your doctor doesn't have a problem, then you shouldn't either. Having sex or walking helps. I was two weeks past my due date when my doctor decided to induce. The morning I was suppose to be induce I started having contractions at 3:30 a.m. and 13 hrs later I had my baby. Trust me you shouldn't be in a hurry for labor. It hurts like a mother@#$!. Good luck with the baby.

Answer 8

Castor oil causes diarrhea and vomiting. Neither of which is pleasant especially when very pregnant. Also, you are not past your due date if you are 39 weeks, 40 weeks is a full pregnancy. Be patient, the baby will be here soon.

Answer 9

Castor oil is mainly used for cleaning out your system, not for brining on labor. Please do not waste your time, money, or anything else trying this method. Oh yeah-castor oil tastes absolutely hrrid! I know, when I was a child I had to have a medical test done-and I had to take that stuff-triple zillion yucks!!! My mom even tried to "reward" me with a piece of gum, or juice, or something that tasted good afterwards-it tasted so awful I forgot the "reward". Congrats! Enjoy the little one!

Answer 10

No, it doesn't and is very unpleasant too. You should ask your doctor if he/she will induce labor. They use Pitocin, which is a synthetic form of Oxytocin, the hormone you produce naturally to begin labor. I tried castor oil w/ my first pregnancy and all that happened was severe abdominal cramping for like 12 hours and massive diarrhea. I was then told by the doctor that can be dangerous.