Castor oil or medical induction?

Question

I am 39 weeks pregnant. The office that I go to is very big on medical inductions at 40 weeks. When I asked why they said that it is easier to deliver a baby that is not overdue. So if I have not her by Thursday they want to induce me. I am not really against it but I would rather come up with another way then medically. My midwife suggested Castor Oil. I was wondering if anyone had any success stories with this or if it is even worth trying. I know it can be messy....

Answer 1

You don't have to be induced, even if your doctor thinks its the best idea. Its not any harder to deliver a baby that's overdue. Babies run on their own timelines. When your child is ready to be born, it will come out.. Castor oil can have very harmful side effects, outside of the fact you'll spend HOURS on the toilet. If you insist, you could try drinking red raspberry leaf tea and reading up on evening primrose oil.

Answer 2

Oh god no. The only thing castor oil will do is make you puke and have diarhea. If you do happen to go into labor during this time, can you imagine the mess? You don't want to wait to deliver past 41 weeks, because the baby has a low chance of surviving if in the womb too long. I don't agree with induction at 40 weeks, but if you must, there will be doctors all around in case something goes wrong.

Answer 3

This is very upsetting to read. But I suppose it's too late to change practices now. If any midwives are reading this I hope they will answer. The key phrase in your question is "easier to deliver a baby that is not overdue"...easier for whom? For them. This is not a sign of a good practice and I would be very curious to know their rate of c-sections. Inductions/interventions in general lead to more interventions.

You are not required to accept an induction. Forty weeks is NOT necessarily the "due" date--it is flexible on either side of two weeks. Your due date is an ESTIMATE at best. The main thing to be concerned with is that the placenta is feeding the baby, and if they are really concerned, they can do an ultrasound.

My baby was born ten days "late"...not a big deal. At 42 weeks they planned to give me an ultrasound to check the health of the placenta and then determine whether to transfer to the hospital and induce. BTW, I was not effaced at all at 41 weeks.

The midwife suggested evening primrose oil and lots of walks. I took the primrose oil orally and vaginally for two days, took long walks all day, and boom I was in labor. It could have been the walks and the oil OR it could have just been baby's time to come out!

Good luck and hope you have an advocate for you when you go in.

Answer 4

I would think castor oil is a lot worse then a medical induction. Castor oil can cause vomitting, naseau, diarreah, dehydration, and it is not good at all for you to be dehydrated while pregnant, and it can also cause the baby to have a bowel movement while still in the womb which is REALLY bad. Being miserable, swollen, achey, pregnant, I wouldn't want to add being miserable, swollen, achey, diarreah, naseau having contractions that aren't even real, pregnant. Medical induction would be a lot safer then castor oil. Sure there are those very few women who experience none of those symptoms with castor oil, but I wouldn't try it out.


I have heard of other things that work like pineapple (eat a lot) raspberry leaf tea, walking, sex, nipple stimulation, try a warm bath, or do something you like to do, or go out on a date with your spouse and when you are truly enjoying yourself something will probably start happening. Goodluck and congrats

Answer 5

If I were you I would wait for the medical induction. It's only a few more days. I was medically induced with my first and it was fine, easy actually. Castor oil just makes you have bowel contractions and diarrhea, it can help you go into labor... but you are on the pot until you do, and I have heard that it causes MAJOR cramping as well. Not that contractions are any better... but why have both?! Good luck and congrats on your baby, he/she will be here before you know it!

Answer 6

Sorry caster oil doesn't work, a person I know took it, and all it did was give her a bad stomach ache and gave her the sh**s. Everything you eat or drink is taken into your blood stream and passed to the baby, so I don't see how caster oil somehow just doesn't, idk maybe its special and won't, but like the other person was saying about that, don't do it just because there's a chance it could make the baby's tummy hurt too :( Anyways your almost done! Yay! Relax for these last few days... just make the next week 100% you time! Haha I'm sure when I get to 39 weeks I won't be wanting that advice either. But I do suggest a long walk! Try walking a little faster then your normal speed, and then having sex when you get home, lol hey it might work and sounds good.

Answer 7

My sister took castor oil and ate beets upon the advice of a holistic practitioner. She was in labor four hours later and delivered the following morning.

Answer 8

you need a 2nd opinion. you DO NOT need to be induced until you are at least 2 weeks overdue. this causes alot of distress if the baby isn't ready to be born.

Answer 9

Dont allow pitocins. Its dangerous for baby. Medical induction causes fetal distress and should be a last resort. Its never good to be with an office who uses it as regular practice- its a sign that they care more for themselves and their care and ease, than whats good for baby.

Cervidel works wonderfully if it comes to that.

Nipple stimulation got me through my labor and delivery. It works wonderfully.

Pinch and rub your nipples for 20 minuets at a time every hour, all day. I promise it'll get things going.

Answer 10

I must agree with the poster that said that a practice that uses induction as a habitual thing cares more about themselves than about the babies and mothers.