whats the deal with clary sage, evening primrose, the tea etc etc

[mummy2t]

what is clary sage?? what do u do with it?? when do u start using it? also heard about evening primrose,
basically what are all the things i can do to get this baby out, when can i start doing it? how do i do it? where do i get the stuff i need to do it??? how effective is it all??
please help!

[mummy2t]

bump

[JRocks]

clary sage is an essential oil, and you put a few drops in the bath I believe. Can't vouch for it as never tried it, but getting tempted to as well!
I've been drinking raspberry leaf tea, but you can get it in capsule form too, I think it's been discredited as a way to bring on labour, but is meant to tone your uterus to make labour (especially second stage) faster and more efficient.

If you do find a miracle labour starter please let me know!!

[mummy2t]

oh i will do!! i am 37 weeks nearly and as much as i want the baby to come i dont want her to arrive if she isnt ready. i dont think any of these things will make a baby come if they are no ready will they?? at the min i am scared of anything that will make her come uless she is ready to do so.

[JRocks]

I don't think anything like this has an effect unless it's ready, no. I'm 37 weeks too, but the consultant feels we're fully cooked and I'm having a sweep on Wed... praying it will work!

[PeasPlease]

Clary sage got my contractions going again when they stopped, we put it in an oil burner and the effect was remarkable. It definitely induces contractions so I'm not sure you should use it before labour actually starts.

[mummy2t]

thats interesting peas, its strange all the things you can do to help. prop something i will try when labour starts if it ist going to fast. i am 37 weeks with 3rd and they say your 3rd can be abit unpredictable. 4 hour labour with 1st and 1 1/2hours with second. fingers crossed i will be as quick with this one.

[SCRUFF1]

It worked like a dream for me!

[mummy2t]

when did u start using it scruff?? did u use in bath? how often?? with me been nearly 37 weeks i didnt want to kick things of too early

[NewPenName]

seriously, save your £ (if I recall clary sage is one of the most expensive oils to buy) for a lovely bottle of champagne to celebrate the birth! I wish someone had told me that - oils/homeopathy etc did sod all for me. still they're harmless enough and keep someone in a job...

[PeasPlease]

The same bottle of clary sage is sitting in the bathroom cupboard and I occasionally have a sniff and it brings all the memories flooding back - it smells awful though I think.

Me and DH are total non-hippies and using herbal stuff was totally to us but our (private) midwife suggested it and we couldn't see the harm in trying as opposed to going on a drip in hospital and I was amazed.

[Deeeja]

I used clary sage oil while in labour last time, it helped keep labour going when I stalled, it really worked for me.
Evening primrose oil helps to soften the cervix. I have started taking it a week ago, I am 37 weeks now, and take 3 caps a day. During the final week, I may try inserting some as a pressary directly on to cervix, if I can reach that it is.

[mummy2t]

this is all very interesting!! i have never gone down this route before. i have always waited for baby to arrive and then got on with whatever, lucky for me i have never slowed in labour or anything like that but with this been my 3rd i am thinking i cant be so lucky 3 times! i am just scared of doing something that will make her come before she is ready. i basically want to encourage a already cooked bun! looking at what some people have wrote though its not all about getting them here, more about helping the process, e.g softening the cervix and keeping the contractions going. i think i am going to invest in the primrose oil and the clary sage. even if it doesnt help with bubba it cant do any harm.

[mummy2t]

p.s how the hell do u know where your cervix is??? i mean i have a good idea but, wouldnt have a clue where to put the capsule