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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

can someone please explain the use of evening primrose oil?

49 replies

mad4mybaby · 27/10/2008 19:05

Just wondering when you use it, and what its purpose is? Also i vaguly remember reading you use it internally??

OP posts:

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rainbowdays · 27/10/2008 19:26

Can't remember doseages etc, but it is used to soften the cervix for labour, so used very near end of pregnancy only. It can be taken orally and internally. Worked wonderfully for me!

mad4mybaby · 27/10/2008 20:44

how far near the end anyone? Am 36 weeks... Is this worth doing?

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mum2bean · 28/10/2008 18:22

i'm 39+6 and completely bored of waiting. i have tried sex (eventually persuaded him) and castor oil as i am getting contractions, and have been since sunday! i have heard that it can work, but i have been told that it is later in the pregnancy when it really works well. sorry i cant help more, but as i am trying EVERYTHING to get my labour started i will let you know what worked for me!!

BabyBaby123 · 28/10/2008 18:33

careful with the castor oil mum2bean - it can be dangerous - can apparently cause baby to open bowels inside you. Also I don't think it's really a good idea to have the runs yourself during labour!

mum2bean · 28/10/2008 18:37

i already had that, not impressed so i have decided not to take any more and try less runny ways of bringing her into this world. walking up and down stairs, hot curry etc. learnt my lesson from the castor oil, i am so glad i didn't take too much, half a teaspoon full and it done that!

mad4mybaby · 28/10/2008 19:11

have you tried relexology mum2bean? I had some today and although she wasnt touching the specific points for labour as too early for me she touched on the pituity (SP!) gland and it went crazy! With ds1 it helped put me into labour..

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mum2bean · 28/10/2008 20:42

no, i wasn't aware it could do that, thanks for the tip! shame theres not a 24 hour reflexologist.....wheres the yellow pages??? lol

rainbowdays · 28/10/2008 21:12

I tried the EPO at 39 weeks and after first night had sudden loss of mucus plug and second night delivered baby!!!! I had been having contractions for weeks before hand and nothing happening, was told by midwives that my cervix was definitely not ready. So

I am convinced that it was the EPO that helped get the baby out for me, and also wondering if it was what helped me not to tear this time (third baby, tore on two previous times)?

So mum2bean, I would suggest that you do not take it until you are ready for the baby to arrive, ie definitely not before 38 weeks.

mad4mybaby - have you tried EPO yet internally? Hope the reflexologist works for you.

mum2bean · 28/10/2008 21:19

im 39+5 days still waiting......

expatinscotland · 28/10/2008 21:26

bumping!

so how does it work?!

internally or do you just take it.

due on Friday here.

baby in position, but he is way high up and nowhere near engaged (3rd baby).

they won't do a sweep at all at 40+2 if his head isn't further down.

mad4mybaby · 28/10/2008 21:28

think she just got the 2 of us mixed up!

rainbow, did you take it internally then? How much and how often did you take?

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mad4mybaby · 28/10/2008 21:29

hello expat! remember you from early days of the due nov thread! cant believe we are nearing the end! I just googled it and you can take it internally 2 x 500mg until 38 weeks and then increase to 3-4 a day. Like i said that is just googling..

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expatinscotland · 28/10/2008 21:31

i'm off to the healthfood shop tomorrow!

i've tried sex, wine, sitting on my ball, hypnobirthing.

am also having contractions that knock off with paracetamol, but are painful enough to screw up my sleep.

they never last, however, and are not regular.

mad4mybaby · 28/10/2008 21:33

are you going to try that calllu whatsit the homeopathic remedy? Theres another thread going on at the mo about it..

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expatinscotland · 28/10/2008 21:39

i'm going to try this EPO for now.

i know my cervix probably isn't soft at all becuase his heads still so high.

mad4mybaby · 28/10/2008 21:42

sorry if it sounds abit duhhh when i say this but make sure they are actual capsules, like what cod liver oil comes in and pierce it with a sterile needle. Not that ive done it yet, just what ive found out!

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rainbowdays · 29/10/2008 22:20

Whoops sorry mum2bean and mad4mybaby, I did get you the wrong way around, , I should re-read what I type before I post!

expat - I took capsules one day two capsules orally - but this had no effect. So the next day I was desperate enough to take two capsules orally during the day and one internally before going to bed, that seemed to work with loosing massive plug following morning. I then took it orally during the day and internally on third night and baby had arrived by the morning! I am convinced that, taking it internally, was the key to getting the cervix softened enough for the contractions to do something.

Hope that mum2bean and expat get babies here soon, and that all goes well.

mabel1973 · 30/10/2008 07:31

I have just found this thread, I had never heard of EPO being used in pregnancy.
I am taking raspberry leaf tea capsules, but have got got some EPO in the cupboard. I am 37 weeks pg, so is that too early to start taking it?

mad4mybaby · 30/10/2008 09:07

mabel im 36+2 and im going to start today when my shopping gets here! I dont believe it to be something that will put you in labour just prepares your body (much the same as taking the RTL) I googled and read you should take 2 x 500mg until week 38 and then increase to 3-4 per day. I believe that was swallowing them as apposed to putting in them. Worth a google.. you can get EPO reasonably cheap if you buy at supermarket as apposed to health shop.

OP posts:

mabel1973 · 30/10/2008 14:32

The tablets I've got in the cupboard are 1000mg, so I've just had one! I did google it, but couldn't find alot about it, other than one article that said you could rub it on your cervix???

mad4mybaby · 30/10/2008 14:36

well thats what they mean taking internally. If you use a capsule one, pierce it with a steril needle and erm pop it inside you!

OP posts:

Tinkerisdead · 30/10/2008 14:38

hi im using EPO, it contains prostaglandins so best internally as well as orally. you should take around 1000g a day and insert a pierced capsule in the evenings ideally. im 38 weeks tomorrow and been doing this this week(as read in Ina May guide to childbirth and discussed with independant midwives). i also have caulopyhllum (sp) as discussed and want to start this but the dosage completely confuses me..its also so potent, im debating when to take it as i had such a bad nights sleep last night, i dont think i'd have the energy if i went into labour today!!!

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mum2bean · 30/10/2008 14:40

im in the early stages of labour, and have tried EVERYTHING. castor oil, sex(much to DP's protests) massage, herbal teas, oils/lotions, stairs, walking on pebbles, starjumps, housework, my DP even tried scaring me into full labour! still, i am here waiting for the big event to happen, still in the early stages. i think it's just going to happen when baby wants it, and nothing will change that. unless you are evry lucky and obviously, im not good luck to you though

mabel1973 · 30/10/2008 14:43

oh blimey...this is getting complicated.
So i have to pierce a 1000mg capsule and swallow (as normal) an I also have to pierce another one and insert up my fanjo???? do i squeeze the contents in whilst lying with my legs in the air??? I am assuming you don't want the actual capsule up there as that's just gelatin isn't it??

Tinkerisdead · 30/10/2008 14:43

if you have a sweep ask the midwife to break a capsule in her fingers and apply it there too.

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