thread: Castor Oil

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  1. #1
    Registered User

    Aug 2009
    Australia
    61

    Castor Oil

    Hello
    I am 38 weeks and 2 days pregnant. I am curious to know what people think of using castor oil as a natural method to commence labour hopefully and is there a specific way to take castor oil. I am walking, taking Blackmores raspberry leaf extract tablets, can't have sex as I am a single mother (hehehe) etc.
    Thanks

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Feb 2008
    Near the Snowies!
    2,975

    I've heard it is quite effective (i.e. induces labour within 6-12 hours) but has some quite unpleasant side effects. Personally, I wouldn't try it! Your baby will come when it is ready, and you don't want to "make" it come before it is really ready. (castor oil causes diarrhea which irritates the muscles of the intestine (causing cramping/diarrhea) which causes the muscle of the uterus to become irritated and start contracting.)

    I would stick to the gentler methods of walking/raspberry leaf, as an aid to assisting your body to get ready for birth, rather than using quite a violent method like castor oil. Apart from the fact it would also taste disgusting!

    ETA: the people that told me they took castor oil had it with orange juice

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Aug 2009
    Australia
    61

    Hi! I read that they recommend 100ml castor oil to 100ml orange and other different measurements so I thought that I may just try one tablespoon to a glass of orange juice on Saturday night before I go to bed. I would love for labour to commence while XP is in not in town so I could have a relative stress-free labour. . . I think I will ask the midwife perhaps, I don't want to take it too much eg nausea, toileting and risk of dehydration

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Aug 2009
    Australia
    61

    Lol no, certainly don't need a partner for a big 'O' lol

  5. #5
    BellyBelly Member

    Feb 2007
    1,029

    My OB asked me not to take castor oil, very messy result, even messier if it doesn't bring on labour!

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Jul 2006
    6,869

    What SS storm said!

    Id steer clear of castor oil as well.

    Try nipple stimulation, walking, RLT.

    At the end of the day, bub wont come out until they are ready no matter what you try...well thats been the case with my 3 kids!

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Aug 2009
    Australia
    61

    It is better to stay with the walking, RLT, nipple simulation. Read some evidence that castor oil can cause the baby is pass their first little pooh inside of womb. . . Very dangerous!

  8. #8
    Registered User

    May 2007
    Perth, WA
    839

    No, no and no, and if you do, DO NOT take 100ml of it!!!
    Def not recommend it based on experience and it didn't bring labour on for me at all and had very unpleasant effects. But 100ml is a huge amount. I am sure I had 20ml when I tried it!

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Aug 2009
    Australia
    61

    Decision Made

    Okay definitely not going to try to bring on labour with castor oil now. I will enjoy my RLT, walking and some nipple simulation which are all helpful and natural! It's not uncomfortable with the pregnancy yet and even though his head is engaged apparently, he is reasonably high. I will just have to wait for my darling son to decide when he wants to come

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Jul 2006
    Cloud nine :D
    6,309

    Castor Oil - I wouldn't recommned... Does nothing but give you the runs... which is really not what you need when preparing to give birth... More hassel then it is worth

    There is really nothing you can do to help him/her out, she will come when she is ready... and I don't mean to sound like a snotty cow, But it's the truth I've Tried EVERYTHING with my two... hehehe!

    Keep going for walks, if anything it is keeping you healthy and active

    RLT apparently help with contractions

    In re: to the sex... It's not about the actual sex... Its more to do with the big O, which releases hormones that help labour along... don't need a partner for everything