How safe is EPO
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=14071
Printed Date: 22 August 2025 at 8:36am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: How safe is EPO
Posted By: emmaohara
Subject: How safe is EPO
Date Posted: 30 January 2008 at 7:49pm
|
Hey ladies
I had never heard of EPO before reading about it on here a while ago and have looked at it on the internet and it says scary things like " effect not known on baby.....etc" So how many of you used it to help before the birth, when did you start using it, how many did you take a day and did it help - bring baby on time!? Thanks 
Os I'm already on Raspberry leaf tea , a cup a day just don't want this bubba to be 2 weeks late again...! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Replies:
Posted By: solgirl
Date Posted: 30 January 2008 at 7:55pm
|
I was told by my mw to take EPO from 36 weeks...if I remember correctly it was 2 capsules three times daily orally and 2 daily internally....is supposed to help everything stretch.
I did this with DD and will do it again for #2. She also said to start raspberry leaf and third trimester tea at the same time....4 cups per day. Had a good larbour with DD so will be doing this all again. The teas that I used where from a health food store so much much stronger than what you get from the supermarket....they taste disgusting but with a bit of honey they are bareable. Hope this helps. ------------- MUMMY TO EMMA (4yrs), PAIGE (2yrs) & http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 30 January 2008 at 7:56pm
|
I never took the tea, disguising stuff in my opinion.
I did EPO from 37 weeks twice a day internally. I also used the naturopharm prebirth spray stuff. Daniel came a week early |
Posted By: HippyMama
Date Posted: 30 January 2008 at 8:38pm
|
It depends on the dosage of the capsules as to how many you take a day, I just took one 1000mg capsule in the morning and one in the evening, from about 36 weeks onward.
As for the raspberry leaf tea I just sweetened it with a teaspoon of honey too 
|
Posted By: Snickerdoodle
Date Posted: 30 January 2008 at 9:02pm
I really liked the raspberry leaf tea 
I started EPO at 37 weeks. I took 4 x 1000mg tablets a day for two weeks (2 down, 2 up) and for the last 6 days I took 2 down, 3 up. Established labour started at 6am @ 39w6d - she came 6 hours later. Doesn't seem to have been effected by it. My MW said it's been a trusted method for many, many years. I'll be using it again, if I'm lucky enough
------------- 
http://lilypie.com">  
|
Posted By: MonicaMouse
Date Posted: 30 January 2008 at 9:07pm
|
I was in a similar position to solgirl 2 capsules three times daily orally and 2 daily internally, apparently it's also to help soften things up. I didn't do the tea thing, but took the raspberry leaf capsules instead.
I don't know if it did help as bubs turned posterior in the 5 days and I was hospitalised with BP issues. (he ended up born on the 15th - EDD from 11wk scan, but 5 days late by LMP) IF there is a next time, would still do the tablet thing. ------------- 
Blair 15/10/2007 Daniel 30/07/2009 |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 10 May 2008 at 10:52am
|
Bump for RoseWood ------------- |
Posted By: rosewood
Date Posted: 10 May 2008 at 12:09pm
|
Thanks Sheza.
Right, questions.... Am I too late to start these as I am about a week over now? When using them internally, do you pierce them first. What is the recommended dose internally/orally Getting desperate now so any help would be appreciated...Please... ------------- Gill http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 10 May 2008 at 1:16pm
|
Hey Gill,
My midwife has just instructed me to start using EPO and as you know I'm just over dates, so I don't think it's ever too late (I'd never heard of it before either though, so definitely not an expert!). She told me to buy a bottle of 1000mg capsules from the supermarket, pierce two with a needle at bed time and use them both internally. Make sure you wear a pad as apparently they are quite messy (I'm trying them for the first time tonight). You can take them orally instead but I don't think they are as effective. For pills left over, apparently they are good for helping regulate your emotions/moods post birth, so they won't go to waste (I imagine you'd be taking them orally then, however!). I'd check with your midwife, even just to let her know you're taking them. Apparently they have a small amount of prostglandins (sp - sorry), kind of like the same as sperm - so do a similar job in terms of thinning the cervix and getting things ready, but won't actually cause labour to start unless it was going to happen already. I'll take any help I can get! Oh, and in a small number of woman they can cause thrush-like symptoms, so if you feel any burning etc. then obviously stop using them. Hope that helps. Good luck!  ------------- Mum to two gorgeous girls! |
Posted By: Kicker
Date Posted: 10 May 2008 at 2:15pm
|
I did the raspberry leaf tea in capsule form - much nicer than drinking the tea, from about 34 weeks.
I also took EPO capsules orally from about 38 wks. I like to think that they both helped any i will be using them again next time. O and my labour from first contraction to birth was 3hrs, dont know if the due to the tablets though. -------------  
|
Posted By: rosewood
Date Posted: 10 May 2008 at 3:07pm
|
Thanks all.
EPO purchased !
Likewise Mazzy - will give absolutley anything a go now. Well done on the weight loss Kicker  ------------- Gill http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: Kicker
Date Posted: 10 May 2008 at 7:28pm
|
Thanks
And good luck to you, hopefully it wont be too long for you now before you get to meet your little one. -------------
|