castor oil?

Question

I'm 38 weeks and 2 days pregnant and lost my plug, I just read on a website that castor oil relaxes your bowels which relaxes your uterus which can put you into labor, would a laxative work the same way?? If not anyone have any ideas of how i could self induce my labor, I'm in terrible hip and back pain.

Answer 1

I TRIED THE CASTOR OIL!!!! Oh God the devil himself made the stuff. Let me tell you. I was 39 wks and a day and was soooo tired of being pregnant. I got the bright idea to try the castor oil. I only drank about an ounce or so.The texture alone was was enough to kill me (think melted vaseline). After I got it down, I waited awhile. Nothing happened so I went to bed. About 2 hours later I woke up with the worst vomiting, diarrhea, and cramps I have EVER had in my life. I don't recommend this to ANYONE!!

Just for the record...I did not know about the effects of castor oil. All I had ever heard about it was that people used to give it to kids for all kinds of ailments years and years ago and that it was good for inducing labor.

Answer 2

Yes laxatives will often start contractions, though they do not cause as strong a contraction as castor oil, which is why castor oil is used over Exlax.

Castor oil induction is very uncomfortable and not very effective. It can lead to very strong rectal cramps which because the muscles to the anus and cervix are somewhat sympathetic, it can cause contractions. Ineffective contractions while you are on the toilet with severe diarrhea and I'd say 50% of the time vomiting. This sometimes kicks in labour and sometimes does not. If it does start labour, you are likely exhausted, dehydrated and uncomfortable- not a good way to start. And if it does not start labour, then you are exhausted, dehydrated, uncomfortable and that's it.

I'm sorry you are feeling so uncomfortable and in pain. Most self induction methods do not work very well, and infact, often medical induction does not work very well either. Your body works very hard to keep babe inside!

My advice to you is this. Get ready for baby, take time for yourself now, because it will be hard to soak in the tub and get a facial in a few weeks. Watch junky TV, go to the movies etc etc. Distract yourself and enjoy yourself. Like they say a watched pot never boils.

Hang in there, and happy birthing.

Answer 3

DO NOT INDUCE YOUR OWN LABOR.

Castor oil/laxatives will cause diarrhea, which can cause dehydration, which may cause contractions but probably not productive, real contractions. And if it does work, which it probably won't, then you'll be doing the hardest work of your life while totally dehydrated and pooping uncontrollably. Sounds like a good plan, doesn't it?

Due dates are just estimates. Your baby may be 38 weeks. He/she may be 40 weeks. But he/she may only be 36 weeks. And a study a few months ago showed that even kids born at 38 weeks were far more likely to suffer both acute and chronic health conditions than their peers born at 40 weeks.

If your doctor agrees that there's a medical reason to do it, he/she will induce you. Otherwise, you just have to tough it out.

If you feel you must try SOMETHING, try walking, rocking in a rocking chair, bouncing on a birthing ball, nipple stimulation, or sex. None of those are harmful if your baby and your body aren't ready, but if you ARE thinning and dilating, they'll help you along.

It always amazes me that women who agonize about taking cold medicine or Tylenol during their pregnancies, who worry about their stress levels and everything they eat, can, at the very end of their pregnancies, decide to take it all into their own hands and jeopardize their own health and that of their babies...

Answer 4

The castor oil is a laxative and it crosses the placenta and baby gets it too. It acts as a laxative on baby too and he/she may have a bowel movement in utero because of it. This is very dangerous and possibly life-threatening to baby if it is breathed in.

3 things to help start labor naturally--

walking--makes baby's head put pressure on the cervix and starts dilation
sex--semen contains prostoglandins which can start effacement and contractions
nipple stimulation--20 mintues on 10 off, and repeat for several hours until labor is established--an electric breastpump is useful here.

Answer 5

I was always told not to use Castor oil but walking will help to make the baby drop and bring on labor. I'm sure that walking will be painful but maybe you could walk a while and sit a while.

Answer 6

well im 38 weeks and 3 days pregnant i am 70% effaced and i already lost my mucas plug. i went out and bought a bottle of castor oil and was going to take it but i got to looking on the internet and it said that it couldbe dangerous for the baby if you have a bowle movement during labor.so i would try walking although i know it is painful trust me i am miseralbe i would give anything to get this over with but not if it isint safe try nipple stimulants you can look that up on yahoo it wored for some people

Answer 7

the way castor oil works is that it dehydrates you so bad(by making you have diahrea) that it makes your uterus contract. not a good idea. you can seriously hurt your baby by becoming that dehydrated. if you lost your mucus plug, you should go in now or contact your doctor immedietly. don't take anything for it. and if you're having hip and back pain, you're in labor. go to the hospital.

Answer 8

It makes your bowels contract and thats supposed to trick your uterus into contracting too. I tried it, big mistake. It tasted HORRIBLE, gave me the trots, and didn't help labour along any better. I could taste it for days after taking it. Still makes me gag and baby is 2 months old.
Try having sex (with or without a partner) walking, doing squats (brings baby down) washing bathroom walls, eating something spicy.

Answer 9

I would call your doctor, I have 5 children. The doctor has several options including stripping your membrane, sets you into labor within 24 hours or possibly admitting you and breaking your water, I had to have both of these done. Good Luck and congratulations.

Answer 10

Ask your doctor to stripe your membranes, that was the only thing that worked for me. Put me in labor in one day. I wouldn't do the castor oil, I heard bad things about it and trust me, labor is really hard itself, you don't want to get exhausted BEFORE.