caullophylum to START labour?

[naughtyameliajayne]

can i use caullophylum to start labour or is it only suitable to strengthen contractions oncelabour has started? anyone know/ have experience?? thanks

[Lotster]

Hiya, I used it when I was overdue. It worked, maybe too well.

Really didn't want to be induced, took it and within 24hours was having B.Hicks lasting up to 3 minutes a time. Next evening labour started 11pm, went to hosp. 7am, where they said I wasn't dilating yet but let me stay. 3 hours 50 mins later I was 10cms and fully dilated, which they didn't notice as they never expected it to hapen so fast. Think they just assumed I was not coping with the pain too well, when in actual fact I was going through a really speedy labour!

Because it was such a shock I was then left ages to wait for an epidural for a forsep birth as I couldn't push him out unaided as he was back to back. If your baby is OP too then I wouldn't recommend it - contractions can sometimes turn them round the right way if given anough time, unlike my speedy case. If you have a good position and are overdue then maybe it would be good.

Would advise you to have a good think about it first and call Ainsworths (google) for advice on dosage.

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

is it a homeopathic remedy?

[liahgen]

i used it for my 2nd baby. 22 hrs with first.

Went a week over and was induced but had a surprising 2 hr labour that they didn't realise was happening either.

[liahgen]

sorry gwmh, yes it is.

[Flowermum]

Lotster, what doasge did you use?

I used it last time from my due date, but was taking it for maybe three days before anything budged, then really fast labour.
From first twinge to baby in arms was about 8 hours, she was my first.

Am 39 weeks today and feel ready but head is still hitting pelvis, not engaged yet. So I'm wondering is there any point? Or does the head just pop down during labour on your second?

OR can I just go up there and pull this baby out myself?

[liahgen]

its more unusual for baby to engage with subsequent pg's flowermum.

If body is not ready i would hesitate trying to make things budge personally.

If you have history of fast labours then it could happen a bit too quickly. Sometimes it's as shocking for the body/baby for it be born very quickly, as it is for it to be a long drawn out affair.

[Flowermum]

Thing is I think the first labour was fast because of the caullophylum so I'm dreading the thought of having a normal 24 hour type labour!
I do have some other pre-labour symptons, like strong braxton hicks, some lower tummy cramping, increased discharge, cleaning the bathroom at 11.30 the other night (I never clean!)...
Midwife at todays appt showed me some squats I could do to encourage the head down, might try them.

[liahgen]

absolutely squats are good, if you have no pelvis problems.

Try talking to babe. You have to be sincere but just try telling him/her that you're ready now, looking forward to meeting etc.

Also there's always good old sex, and nipple stimulation,

let us know how you are getting on.

good luck

[Flowermum]

Actually that reminds me, night before I had DD I was squatting on the floor for ages visualising DD moving downwards, talking to her. I#m such a hippy!

Am too wrecked for sex but am trying to build myself up to initiate it!

Squats sound easier, less up/down movement!

[liahgen]

excellent there you go then., Bit of visualisation.

at your up and down movements

[frazzledoldbag34]

flowermum - just lie there and let him do all the up/down stuff! You're pregnant and exhausted - let him do the hard work for you! That was my strategy anyway. Seemed to work!

[Flowermum]

He'd probably be that glad of the action he'd do it! I have zero sex drive when pregnant it seems, poor DP!!!

[naughtyameliajayne]

thanks, i used it last time - contractions had stopped, took caullophylum, nothing for 3 hours and then he suddenly shot out in about 20 minutes - so really i suppose i was wondering if it has the same effect when contractions haven't started at all (and if so i might avoid it!)

[frazzledoldbag34]

I'd never heard of this stuff before but it sounds scary! Is it safe and where do you get it?

[liahgen]

probably best to consult a homeopath. You can get it inthe helios birth kits though

[frazzledoldbag34]

Thanks - may consider that in 6 months time when no3 is due! Or might not - as it said it sounds a bit savage! Was the 2 hour labour horribly painful or not too bad (you said they didn't realise you were in labour??)
Just interested as had v long horrid labour with DD2. Would like to avoid this (hell) again if possible this time.......

[bundle]

wrt homeopathic remedies, it doesn't really matter as there's nothing in them
literally
so yes, take them if you like

[Flowermum]

I started taking it days before labour and when it started, my contractions were about 5 or 6 mins apart. I think I skipped the slow pre-labour part and went straight to the good stuff.

Have the Helios birth kit. It's calling me... Chanting my name... Waiting for me to start popping every damn pill in the box!

Also have low dosage (30c) Gelsemium which makes baby go loola but as there's no rhyme or rhythm to my BHs at the moment I reckon it won't do anything.

Frazzle, talk to a homeopath. They're cautious about the whole childbirth thing but I think it was worth it.

[liahgen]

actually, no the labour was fine. EXH had just been sent home, saying nothing was happening, it'll be a good few hours yet, but then things picked up. I was still lucid but asked for epidural. Anethatist got there, too late.

TBH was a bit shocking and nasty 2nd degree tear as he was still turning into birth position as he appeared but much better than almost dead baby being dragged out of me the first time. (she's fine now, 13 dd)

hoemopaths do tend to be a bit cautious as mentioned but like someone else said, they won't do any harm.

[RhinestoneCowghoul]

My friend took it recently with her second as she was overdue. She went into labour in the early hours of the morning she was due to be induced.

Labour was fairly fast but manageable (in as much as they ever are!)

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

I've read you only really take one tablet of 200c - is there anything else you can use it for afterwards then seeing as it costs more then a fiver for a pack of it?

[Lotster]

Hi Flowermum, I took 200c. Also had reflexology "induction".

Hope you don't have to wait too long!

Bundle, I must say that although they seems hard to believe in (found an explanation about how they work below if anyone's interested), and one could say my labour would have been fast anyway etc, it is an unknown quantity anyway etc.. I do have absolute proof they work, for me at least:
I had breast thrush which for over two months of agony no medicine or ointment from the doctors could cure, they gave up and passed me to a BF Counsellor. She recomended The Organic Pharmacy who prescribed and sent me a homeopathy called Borax and was better within days.

How are the remedies made?:
There are five regulated homeopathic pharmacies in the UK.
The raw extracts (from plants or animals) or triturations (from minerals and salts) are made into a ?tincture? with alcohol which forms the basis of the dilution procedure. Dilutions are made up to either 1 part tincture to 10 parts water (1x) or 1 part tincture to 100 parts water (1c). Repeated dilution results in the familiar 6x, 6c or 30c potencies that can be bought over the counter: the 30c represents an infinitessimal part of the original substance.

If they are so dilute, how can they work?:
After each dilution the mixture is vigorously agitated in a machine that delivers a calibrated amount of shaking. This is called succussion. It is thought that this process imprints the healing energy of the medicinal substance throughout the body of water (the diluent) as if a message is passed on. The message contains the healing energy. Even in ultra-molecular dilutions, information specific to the original dissolved substance remains and can be detected.

[VASTlargeginandbloodymary]

Approach with caution...

I tried it and although ds was late he came out in 40 minutes.

I gave it to a fed up friend over the road when she was late, less than an hour later an ambulance was parked outside her house. She had the baby at home!

Another friend barely got to hospital and had her ds in the little room just off the car park for that very emergency

I declined last labour despite being late. I was too afraid of the super quick labour happening again.

He took almost 6 hours

I may relent this time but take tiny doses.

[Lotster]

GirlWithTheMousyHair:
just looked this up for you:

An important herb for women, blue cohosh (caullophyllum) is said to help relieve painful menstruation, relieves muscle spasms and cramps, regulates menses, help with labour pains and can possibly induce or shorten labor. It should not be used by pregnant women except in the last month.

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

thanks Lotster. Just been round to my local health freak shop and their resident homeopath happened to be there. She said she normally suggests taking 200c dosage 3x a day!! which seems a bit much listening to the stories on here.

They only had 30c in stock so am going to try taking that 3x a day and see what happens (on her recommendation)...am 3 days over so it will at least help me feel I'm actively doing something, and I'm getting too many headches from all the clary sage oil I'm burning!