Castor Oil Induction

Hi ladies, I'm 4 days overdue today - so not to bad (although I wish this baby would come). I have another MW apt on Monday and scan to check all ok, then will be refered to hospital for induction date. My MW said she would do a S&S at 41 weeks so next Monday. I have had 3 accupunture apts as well - baby engaged, but no waters breaking, no show and no cramps to talk of. MW said that the day before induction if I am still waiting she would suggest taking 1tablespoon of castor oil in Orange Juice. She did mention it can cause diahoreha. From what I have read on the net it seems lots of bad and a few good things. I just wonder if it is so bad why would the midwife tell me to do it prior to an induction?? Obviously she thinks it is better than an induction??? Anyone with any experience??

My MW was really anti castor oil. Not something I would do myself and would take the induction instead

Yeah its not something I would do .. I actually got a tummy bug in late pg which made my uterus contract (thats what castor oil does it makes your bowel "contract" which rubs against the uterus wall and makes it contract) and it didnt actually bring labour on anyway .. if baby isnt ready to come, it wont.

Ah... I'm one that used it and would definetly use it again.

I was 41+1 days and two days earlier my midwife had performed a S&S, where she was able to stretch my cervix to 3cm. She is also another who didn't want me to take castor oil but I was determined NOT to go in for an induction.

Basically took a tablespoon at around 3pm.. diarhoea started about 7.30pm, contractions 20mins later.. waters broke by 8pm, baby born at 11.15pm.

I had no problems whatsoever, everything went well and I'm very glad I took it. Probably best to do what I didn't though - talk it through with your LMC

dont do castor oil.... !!! just because it worked out for mamma2N doesnt mean it will again for anybody else.

I think the question you need to ask yourself is whether you want the sh*ts while you are in labour. Myself personally I could do without that. Labour is a messy enough business as it is.

I was 8 days overdue & not once did I consider the castor oil. I would rather be induced personally (not that I was-he came by himself). I walked up & down Mt Wellington three times & had a stretch & sweep & that was enough to set me off.

Don't go there IMHO.

Thanks for all the thoughts. I am with Birthcare and Parnell and fully trust what they say. I would NEVER take it without being advised by my LMC etc and I have goggled etc and read not so good things, so just wondered what you ladies had heard/experiences etc. It took me two years to get preg so I would not risk anything now. Impatient as I am.....5 days overdue now!! argh!

Um I'm with MamaN- I was 2 weeks late and didn't want to be induced so tried castor oil as a last resort the day before the induction. Unfortunately for me, it didn't bring on labour but I also didn't suffer diarhoea and went on to be induced.
I read everything I could find on the pros and cons and made my decision based on that. Also my LMC had used it with one of her children and I trusted her. If you have reservations then don't do it as you may regret it later.

Good luck

I wouldn't do castor oil, but as one alternative have you thought about using evening primrose oil capsules? My MW recommended them to me when I was also about a week overdue. You can prick a couple of holes in them with a needle, then gently insert them up your *ahem* VJJ Maybe just use 1 or 2 every 2nd or 3rd day. I put them in at night, and I also recommend using a pad as it gets a bit messy! I don't know if that helped with my labour starting or not, but it didn't hurt. I think the theory is that the EPO is meant to help 'ripen' the cervix, and might help labour start....but unfortunately when it comes down to it, bubs is going to come when they are ready! I was booked in to start the induction procedure, but went into spontaneous labour at 8/9 days over. Walking helped alot too. Hope you don't have too much longer to wait.

Thing that I don't get about recommending castor oil is that if it gives you the runs, then is it not possible that you might get dehydrated and that can't be good, especially if it ends up not working that well and you have a long labour.