Castor Oil As Natural Labor Induction?

[Shellster52]

I am 41 weeks and 3 days and staring down the barrel of being induced this Friday. I had the stretch and sweep yesterday and the midwife said I was well and truly ready with her being able to stretch my cervix 4-5cm and feeling the baby's head and even his/her hair pushing right up against the other side of the amniotic sac. She thought something would happen overnight if the procedure was going to work, but here I am the next evening and still nothing :(

I was just as ready with DS1 but no labor by 42 weeks and so was induced which was awful. So while I know that some of these natural methods of labor induction are a bit dubious, you can understand my desperation of wanting to avoid a second induction and perhaps deal with the smaller price of diarrhea from castor oil if it means it will bring things on naturally.

[WellErrr]

It won't.

Hang in there.

[MrsJayy]

I think its a myth that it works you will just poop i know you are desperate

[Room101isWhereIUsedToLive]

I took pukka organic castor oil to get things going with my second pregnancy. Can't remember how much though. So if you are going down that route, research before you do it.
Think I found the advice on how much to take on an American midwives forum.

[ispymincepie]

I was in the same position with my second, desperate to avoid induction and be allowed a homebirth. Castor oil worked but I've since found out it is very dangerous as it can also stimulate baby's bowels risking meconium aspiration. Please don't! Not worth the risk, you will go into labour and you can decline induction.

[AmysTiara]

No don't use Castor oil.

[FunnyUsername]

Orgasm worked for me twice (3rd was a c section). I also tried nipple stimulation, and that in itself set off quite strong Braxton Hicks.

[Woodenmouse]

I was tempted to try it but then read that it can cause all sorts of problems and its really not recommended any more

[Shellster52]

Thanks for your thoughts. I realised in my post that I didn't ask a specific question... guess I'm just needing to rant about my situation. Glad those things worked for you funny but I've already tried the sex for semen to ripen cervix aling with orgasms and nipple stim for oxytocin as well as fennel and raspberry leaf teas. Nothing has produced the slightest indication of braxon hicks or contraction.

So failing that and having read the risks of induction, some of which occured last time... I have actually already taken it this afternoon and again nothing brewing yet.

[MabelSideswipe]

Why not just wait until the baby is ready to come? Have you looked into the actual stats on the risks of waiting?

[Shellster52]

Ive tried looking at the stats of waiting but cant seem to find any. Do you know them?

Most hospitals seem to induce at 42 weeks so perhaps thats the reason I can't find stats on waiting beyond this.

[ShowOfHands]

Nothing works. Some people might say oh x worked for me. That's coincidence though. Thousands of others find it won't work. The baby will come when it's ready.

[MrsJayy]

Is it not something to do with the placenta that induction is advised at 42 weeks?

[MabelSideswipe]

Follow the link to the Sara Wickham article called '10 things I wish all women knew about induction' (or similar!).

[MabelSideswipe]

Sorry here...www.sarawickham.com/tag/induction/page/2

[MabelSideswipe]

midwifethinking.com/2010/09/16/induction-of-labour-balancing-risks/

Also this one.