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Castor Oil Induction for Labor
Is Castor Oil Induction Safe
for the Pregnant Woman and Baby?
What is a Castor Oil Induction?
A castor oil induction consists of taking castor oil orally in the attempt to induce labor naturally.
Among all the home remedies for inducing labor, a castor oil labor induction is the most popular, but also the most controversial. Many women will swear by it, while others who have done it, will tell you not to. If you are considering taking castor oil to induce labor, make sure to talk to your midwife or doctor before.
Medicinally, castor oil has been used for centuries as a laxative because castor oil (Ricinus communis) has a very strong effect on the stomach and intestines. In medical herbal medicine, castor oil is not recommended in large dose and it is used for constipation, even if there are milder herbs like Senna that work much better than castor oil for this purpose. The health benefits of castor oil are due to its external uses as castor oil packs to cure arthritis, rheumatic pain, PMS, fibroids, ovarian cysts, etc.
How Does a Castor Oil Induction Work?
Castor oil is a very powerful laxative that stimulates the bowels and gives you diarrhea in some cases quite severe. As the bowels contract under the stimulation of the castor oil, so does the uterus putting a woman into labor. Usually, after taking castor oil a woman will go into labor within 6-8 hours. Please note that even if labor starts, the bowel contractions may not. So, you will be in labor and you will have the runs. Some women report a positive outcome after using castor oil to induce labor, while others have very unpleasant experiences. This is because every woman's body is different and if you are not really overdue, castor oil will only give your severe diarrhea and no labor. Choosing to take castor oil to induce labor, is a decision that should not be made lightly. My understanding is that women can resort to castor oil induction only if everything else failed, and they are really overdue and already dilated.
Why Castor Oil Induction Is said to Work?
The bowel stimulation by the castor oil induction triggers the production of prostaglandins, which are hormones that contracts the smooth muscles of bowls and uterus.
Castor Oil Induction Recipe
Castor oil to induce labor can be taken in many different ways. The taste of castor oil is terrible, very unpleasant! This recipe is the most commonly recommended by midwives:
1-2 oz of Castor oil
4-6 oz of orange juice (or other juice you may prefer)
1 tsp baking soda (optional) to give it a fizz that helps you drink it down faster.
There are other recipes that put castor oil in root bear, scrambled eggs, ice scream and orange juice, apple juice, milk shake, the possibilities are unlimited. The fact is, all these recipes are just trying to mask the bad taste of castor oil. So, you can be as creative as you like.
If it does not work, do not take more castor oil. It means that the baby is not ready or you are not ready. Also, DO NOT take castor oil to induce labor if you are not overdue. 39-40 weeks of pregnancy is not overdue! You must have passed 41 weeks at least.
The Dangers of Castor Oil Induction?
Personally, I do not think that a pregnant woman's body should be put into so much stress before labor. Also, it may not work! Having said that, if this is something you have talked to your midwife or doctor and you have decided to do, it will work best if your are really overdue like 10-12 days past your due date and if you are already dilated 2-3 cm. An alternative to castor oil is using and enema. This will give you diarrhea and may stimulate contractions without the nausea and vomiting, which can be quite detrimental and weakening to your body.
NOTE: Please, be aware that the use of castor oil to induce labor or for any other purpose can be dangerous and give very unpleasant side effects. Most side effects cause by taking castor oil are nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. A pregnant woman, ready to go into labor should not experience these symptoms in my opinion. Castor oil can cause severe dehydration, which can put the health of the baby at risk. There is no data to back this up, but some practitioners are concerned that castor oil can cause the baby to pass meconium as a result of fetal distress.
Conclusions of Castor Oil Induction
If you are seriously thinking of using castor oil to induce labor, please consider the following to help you make your decision:
1. This should be your last resort, after having tried everything else.
2. You must be really overdue (41 weeks of pregnancy or more).
3. You should have some signs of prodromal labor like mild contractions that come and go.
4. You should be dilated a least 2-3 centimetres.
5. You should have medical support and consent.
6. You should drink lots of fluids to prevent dehydration.
All the best!
Take your time. Relax. In the end all will be well...
A Natural Aternative to Castor Oil
If you are looking for a safer and effective technique to in induce lablr without having to take castor oil, I advice reading this
e-Book on how to use acupressure.
Using pressure points to induce labor naturally can be very effective. There is convincing clinical evidence that proves that acupressure will induce labor and many midwives, medical physicians have noticed that there is a correlation between uterine contractions and the stimulation of certain acupressure points.
How does acupressure to induce labor work? Acupressure for labor induction works by applying firm pressure, or circular motion massage to certain acupressure points on the legs, hands, shoulders and back for a certain amount of time.
Acupressure is what I would recommend for those who are serious about using acupressure to induce labor naturally and to learn ways to ease labor pains. Dr. Lena Leino has put together and amazing book and program that describes exactly how to use specific pressure points to induce labor.
Here you can learn more about acupressure for labor.
Other Ways to Induce Labor Naturally
The best and safest alternative of prostaglandins to induce labor is sex. Sex to induce labor is often overlooked, but it can be quite effective.
Male sperm contains high amounts of prostaglandins, who are said to help induce uterine contractions in their overdue female partners. Some say that the woman has to orgasm in order to get into labor. When talking about home remedies to induce labor, it cannot get any homier than that! This option is definitely worth trying before even considering a castor oil induction.
Another alternative to using castor oil to induce labor is the use of evening primrose oil. This natural supplement contains prostaglandins that help ripen the cervix. Alternative practitioners recommend the oral use of two 500mg evening primrose oil around 37 weeks of pregnancy. It can also be inserted into the cervix at bed time. Take 1-2 500 mg gel capsule of evening primrose, pierce it and inserted inside your cervix. Evening primrose oil will most likely not put you into labor, but it will help get things started. Remember, babies come when they are ready. And when mom is relaxed!
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Homeopathy Birth Kit
& Guide
How to Avoid Castor Oil Induction and Induce Labor Naturally
Thousands of couples now naturally induce labor with a simple technique almost ANYONE can use...
"Imagine Having Your Little Baby On Your Arms!"
Do you want to know how to use a proven quick and easy method to induce labor naturally in a safe way?
Do you want to avoid pharmacauticals and the possible complications of a Medical Induction, like C-section and forcep use?
Matheral Acupuncture teaches you how to aturally induces labor, speed up slow early labor, give effective
labor pain relief without slowing down or stalling labor.
Safe for the mother and the baby.
Learn this technique developed by Dr. Lena Leino.
YES! It Does Work!
Acupressure triggers your labor by stimulating contractions, helping your cervix to dilate and getting your baby to descend.
Scientific evidence proves that natural labor induction with acupressure is and effective. Stimulation of specific acupressure points induces labor in upto 83% of women within 48 hours, sometimes in 25 minutes.
Of course, you have to be overdue at least 40-42 weeks for acupressure labor to give best results.
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