When do I start taking Caullophyllum and raspberry Leaf tea?

[thomcat]

Currently 35 weeks.

Not up for it coming early but would be nice to have my uterus prepapred for whren it does happen.

When does one start drinking the tea / taking the tablets (Raspberry Leaf tea)

Also I have some Caullophyllum left over from last pregnancy so was going to take that nearer the time, amybe a few days before. Can't remember though - do i just let one tablet dissolve in mouth a day?

[Slouchy]

I think rasp leaf from about 35-36 wks.
(Not going the castor oil route this time thomcat ?)

[thomcat]

Hah! No, not if I can help it!
Other 2 were December babies and I wanted them out well before Xmas Day. Not in such a rush this time round. Being heavily pregnant is hard work but coping with no 3 along with the 2 mad children I already have has gotta be harder, so no, no rush this time!

However, if I get threatened with an induction at any stage I won't hesitate to do castor oil for a third time!


Any idea about this caullophyllum stuff?

[thomcat]

Anyone know when and how much for this Caullophyllum?

[greenday]

Sorry I don't have an answer for Caullophyllum but i'm glad I chanced upon this thread, because I'm 39+ weeks and desperate to deliver (EDD this Sat). Thinking about going to castor oil route (except my MIL said olive oil will do the trick as well). May I ask, how do I take it? One teaspoon full? Just gulp it down?

[Eddas]

raspberry leasf tea (i took tablets) from about 36 weeks.

Take them, i'm convinced it works

[FlossALump]

Neals yard RLT from 36 weeks. Purer cut IMO!!

Haven't ever heard of the other stuff - whats that supposed to do then?

[thomcat]

Have Neals Yard fresh tea at the ready.

The other stuff is homeopathic and like the tea it 'riens the uterus', ewwwwwww!

Castor oil, not oliove oil. You can take half a bottle, mixed in with fresh orange juice, stand over sink and down in one. Take in the morning after a good night's sleep as you may be on the loo for a bit of the day!

First time I took the whole bottle in 1 go, at about 7pm. By 10pm I was having contractions, she was in my arms 6 hours later. (was 10 days late with her)

With DD2 I took half a bottle in the morning and had no luck so pissed off I took theother half on my way to bed, about 10,30, woke at 2am with contractions and she was in my arms 4 hours later (I was 3 days early taking it with her)

Good luck.

[Ceolas]

Castor oil is vile

Someone on the Aug 2007 thread was taking the other stuff...

[Ceolas]

'Twas tokentotty...

"tablets that are meant to soften the cervix. They're called 'Caulophyllum 200' and I take one in the morning, then a second one 8 hours later and repeat daily."

[thomcat]

Ohhh thank you.

And yes Castor oil is properly vile but boy is it effective!

[emj23]

But... if it gives you the trots, does it not make labour even more messy? Sorry if that's a bit gross...

[thomcat]

By the time you go into labour there's nothing left to 'trot' out as it were! Done it twice and have never been aware that I made that kind of a mess while labouring. It'sa like havuing an enema before giving birth and although that's not great it has it's plus points. I'd rather have an empty bowel and not be induced any day.

[beansontoast]

justa saying hi!

dont even know what that first thing is that you are asking about! i think thi sbaby will fly out anyway (oh the wisdom of strangers eh?)

anyway ....if you have a boy...i have some cute cute barely worn hand me downs (they are from A list celeb couple spawn...dont make me squeal tho')....cos I DONT NEED EM! (still grinning to myself that she's a she)

[mazzystar]

caullophyllum is for when you are in labour - nt befvre. it can bring on very strong, very painful contractions. its best used if you are having a long, slow early labour or if everything goes a bit sluggish. i would only use it under the advise of a qualified homeopath or a midwife who knows a thing or two. please don't use it before you get to term.

[barbamama]

A couple of books I have say don't take caullophyllum in preparation, just in early labour - personally I am sceptical how a tiny sucrose pill could cause problems but there you go (not that that stops me trying the homeopathy tho, anything is worth a shot). I think the RLT is fine 36 ish weeks as I believe the effect is less drastic and more cummulative. Last time I did the RLT from 37 and was 8 days od but contractions were very strong and 5 mins apart for a 5 hour labour from when they started. The other thing I did which I would recomend with caution is the aromatherapy oil Clary Sage which is another one you are not supposed to use until full term / really want it to start - rubbed it on when went to bed at 12.30 and contractions started half an hour later - couldn't believe it. As I say tho I had no gentle introduction - just full on 5 min apart ones from that point onwards (and I was 8 days over and had a sweep 3 days before so maybe it would have happenned anyway?) which was very intense - might be worth a shot if desperate/overdue.

I am really interested in the castor oil business as last time I did really suffer on the er poo front. I was extremely constipated for a few weeks before the labour and the pain of that was worse than the contractions for most of the labour with the head pushing against it etc (sorry tmi, I'll leave the rest to your imagination). Same issue this time. I have heard people caution against the castor oil - is it just because it can bring on labour quite dramatically? Alternatively are there any laxatives I can take next week to er clear out beforehand (due date next Saturday)? I was even thinking of asking for an enema this time - do hospitals still do that?

[pinkrangerstartstowaddle]

this is good stuff! never considered castor oil! did try it with ds (he was 15 days late) but think i only took 2 tbl spoons so thought it didn't work, didn't realise i had to take that much!
I am 40 +2 and had my 2nd sweep yesterday ( had an early on due to spd and other things) - Have just sent DH out to get some and orange Juice!

[thomcat]

beansontoast, are you still there? I need to see you all and have a snuggle, and would be nice to hold new baby girl too!
And of course I'll make you squeal, and have fun doing ti.
I'm almost beyond myself with dying to know what I'm having!

And I know loads of people say 'ohh don't do castor oil' but I've done it twice and will go back there a third time rather than be induced. i know about 5 castor oil kids, actually I think it's more.

I took Caullophyllum last time, in the weeks or 2 before my due date nd I was fine, I just can't remember when I took it or how much.
Might just stick to the raspberry leaf tea anyway this time.I think on no 3, home/water birth I should be ok without it anyway really. Just have a bottle of pills sat here and thought I may as well!

[greenday]

Thanks for the castor oil advice. If I do not deliver by tomorrow, I am definitely going out to buy some.

[puffylovett]

Hi, the caulophyllum is for helping to induce labour if you are overdue and speed it up - ie if contractions start and then slow down, you would take a couple of doses.

It doesn't really work otherwise, your body has to be primed and ready to go into labour for it to have it's proper effect of making the whole process more efficient and faster.

hope this helps