Castor oil ...

[LB1291]

People’s opinions?

Ideally only those who have used it and not just read up on it via google and will just say “don’t” .. with all due respect. I am aware of the wishy washy link with meconium but it’s highly debatable according to medics apparently?

One American midwife I visited swore by it, preferring it over synthetic induction if overdue.

According to my midwife who was recalling why we shouldn't use it, it works by basically contracting your bowel to get contractions going (assume this is why they recommend curry?), and can give you horendous diarrhoea, so if you don't mind that whilst in labour with the mess and bowel discomfort... and you don't over do it as the lady my midwife attended to had...!

I used it for my first. Was facing induction at 41 weeks for no good reason and was in the company of a midwife relative. I took a small dose (concentrated I think) and it worked. Much better than the alternative I was facing (I was overseas, registered with a very intervention happy consultant).

Thank you ladies.

I don’t mind a bit of a bad belly, I used to take laxatives all the time (ED very bad I know) so hope that after the I initial visits I will be “empty” yuck sorry....

I’m totally terrified of having an induction. Have had them in previous pregnancies and remember the pain going from 0-60 in no time. I needed an epidural so was immobile which I hated. It also ended in EMCS.

Hence looking into alternative methods.

Would you be able to forgive your self if your baby inhaled meconium in labour and ended up unwell?

Such a stupid risk to take IMO

I had an induction previously aswell which meant they wouldn't give me another with my 2nd it was straight to planned section which was 100x better than an emergency one.

Have you asked about a planned section?

From what I’ve seen there isn’t a direct link. But that’s not to say that there isn’t either, just perhaps the control group wasn’t big enough?

Re planned section ideally not, as I can’t do the summer holidays with the others without being “fully functional” so to speak.

I was full functioning a week after my planned section as in out the house with both kids. Even the days after wernt half as bad as the emergency section I was very suprised.

Bump

I did it. Was awful, threw up, felt like death, spent ages on the toilet and then went to bed. This was 9pm. Woke up at 1.15am in labour. No problems from then EXCEPT my body had done such a good job at expelling it all that there was nothing left and I was weak and my contractions tailed off towards the end and it all got a bit frantic. It did work and I was so glad it did because I was overdue and fed up but I'm now pregnant again and probably won't bother this time.

If you have a history of abusing laxatives (no judgement- I have a similar history) then I think it would be a pretty bad idea.

Don’t do it. Labour is hard enough without explosive diarrhea. Just picture that scene.

Also if there is even a tiny chance of it affecting the baby, then absolutely no way is it worth it.

I didn’t think you could have an induction after a c section? but am probably wrong there.

I am right about everything else though, don’t do it!!!

I thought the same re induction. Today was the last straw, the registrar waited for me to be behind curtains naked from the waist down and got the maternity assistant to book my induction in without even consulting me!

I declined the induction as had an awful experience last time ending in emcs and a baby that had a few issues. I am quite open to anything to avoid true medical induction.