Castor Oil Induction - How to Make Castor Oil Induce Labor
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BEFORE YOU CONSIDER ATTEMPTING NATURAL INDUCTION WITH CASTOR OIL.
- Never take more than 1-2 tablespoons in a twenty four hour period.
- Drink lots of water, as castor oil is a laxative and will dehdyrate you.
- If your body is not ready to go into labor it will not work.
- Do not take it as a means to speed up labour - it can make it quite painful on top of contractions. Only take it to induce.
- Do it at your own risk and talk to your medical professional if in doubt.
How It Works
When you're overdue with baby, chances are that you'll be willing to try almost anything. The first few days after you go overdue you might promise yourself that certain methods of natural induction are out of bounds, but after a few more days you'll just be desperate to get baby out.
Castor oil is a liquid laxative that you can find in most chemists and health food stores. Because of its forceful emptying of the bowels which can cause cramping and diarrhoea, castor oil is frowned upon by some people.
However if you do plan to try it or just want to know about it, this guide has the basic information you'll need - both the good the bad and the plain messy. Having spent many hours reading all I could on it, as well as naturally inducing labor with it myself, this is what I learnt...
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Meconium & Castor Oil
If you research castor oil induction thoroughly, you'll find that there are two camps - one claims that castor oil labor induction increases the chance of meconium being passed during the labor due to foetal distress. The other group claims that castor oil labor induction has no relation to passing meconium. I'm no medical expert so here are the facts I've found. You can research and decide for yourself.
- Babies born postdate (40 weeks and over) have a higher chance of passing meconium in the womb due to more mature bowels.
- Babies born without using castor oil to induce labor can still pass meconium in the womb.
- Babies born after castor oil labor induction are still often born without passing meconium in the womb.
- No well documented study has linked meconium and castor oil labor induction or proven that laxatives can pass through the placenta in any form.
- One theory is that anything that effects the mother in a certain way during pregnancy has the same effect on the baby. Diarrhea is one of the main side effects of castor oil.
- Approximately 57% of women who take castor oil go into labor. Remember this is a statistic only and may not take into account how far along they were or other conditions.
But Isn't Castor Oil Used for Abortion?
This is another common argument about why castor oil should not be used to induce labor. However it's a redundant argument - abortion and induction share the same basic goal of evacuating the womb. Many medical induction aids (including pitocin) are also commonly used in abortion.
Medical Opinion
Even medical opinion on the subject varies widely. Some obstetricians and midwives regularly recommend the use of castor oil to induce labour once a woman passes 40 weeks while others discourage or strongly warn against it.
Until the last few decades, castor oil and soap enemas were commonly used in hospitals to induce labor. However doctors discovered other methods of induction that had higher success rates because they were more forceful on the body.
If you do have a high risk pregnancy or are ill, it's a good idea to either seek medical advice or avoid castor oil as an induction method.
Taste & Side Effects
- What castor oil tastes like - Castor oil is a thick liquid which some people do not like the taste of while others say is nearly tasteless. It is a thick, clear, oily liquid. Normal cooking oil or soap has a similar taste.
- Diarrhea - Since castor oil is a laxative, this is a very common side effect.
- Vomiting - A small number of women also vomit due to the strong effect of the oil.
- Cramping - The bowel will usually cramp due to the laxative effect of the castor oil but not everyone will feel it. Some women will experience violent cramps however.
- Nothing - some women will not experience any side effects at all.
Preparing To Take Castor Oil
- Make sure you have plenty of water available to keep you from being dehydrated.
- Be close to a toilet.
- Have your hospital bags ready.
How Long It Takes
- It takes from 2-6 hours for side effects to begin.
- Side effects can last from 1-6 hours.
- It can take from 5-24 hours for castor oil labor to begin, if it's going to.
Reasons To Take Castor Oil
- You don't need to be dialated or engaged for it to work.
- Your system is clean so that it's unlikely you'll have any "accidents" while pushing during labour, except in the rare cases where labor begins very fast or was about to begin when you took the castor oil, anyway.
- Although more forceful than other natural induction methods, it still will not put you into labor unless your body is ready - unlike a medical induction.
Quantities & Drinking Methods
Many places online will recommend taking half a cup or more of castor oil. Personally I'd only recommend taking 1-2 tablespoons at most. As long as you take enough to make the castor oil do it's job, you don't need to overdose on it - taking too much can lead to severe dehydration.
There are plenty of ways you can take castor oil, it's completely up to you. Here are some suggestions:
- Mix with orange juice or a strong flavoured drink to cover the taste.
- Take as a shot then chase it with something to remove the taste.
- Drink over ten minutes either mixed or in small straight amounts.
Studies and Medical Links Regarding Castor Oil Induction
Castor Oil for Induction Study - Noting changes in meconium levels and induction rates compared to a control group.
Castor Oil & Soap Enema Study - Does not cover meconium, but does show statistically rates for inducing with castor oil on its own.
My Experience
I decided to try castor oil as a last ditch effort when I was 41 weeks. I was scheduled for a medical induction at 41+3. According to the doctor just three days before I was undilated and the baby wasn't completely down in the birth canal.
I drank one tablespoon of castor oil at 3pm in the afternoon. I was running to the toilet from approx 5.30pm to 7pm and then had no more side effects. I cleaned my house so it was ready, just in case and about 11.30pm I decided that it was time for bed.
I lay down on the bed and immediately had my first contraction. This was followed by a second contraction two minutes later. We arrived at the hospital and my baby girl was born 4 hours later, a healthy 8lbs 4oz and with no complications. She had an almost perfect apgar of 9 followed by a 10.
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CommentsLoading...
doctor told me to ake it at 37 weeks with baby #2 and it worked hours later he was perfectly healthy.
I am 38 weeks and 2 days and I've just about had it with being pregnant . The backs pains are horrible . I'm thinking about taking 2T of castor oil to get this baby moving ! Hope it works... Wish me luck .
im 39 weeks with my second lil boy been having contractions the past 2 days but not steady so i think i might just try this method n been in the bathroom alot if u know what i mean the past 2 days so me comments please leave them
I was 41.5 weeks due to be induced in 2 days time
I read this page and took 3 tablespoons of C/oil
Yep on & off the toilet for 4 hours then went to bed only to wake up 3 hours later with contractions whent to hospital 4 hours later a perfect delivery
so a very BIG THANKS to this page.
THANK YOU THANK YOU
THANK YOU
im 37 weeks and 5 days this is my 3rd pregnancy and today ive been getting contractions through out the day maybe 10-15 mins apart ive never used this method but i want to have my baby already my stomach feels like its about to explode ...should i use castor oil or not??
hi im almost 37weeks been in and out of labour for 2 weeks was told my baby would come within the 2 weeks she hasnt was given the steroids for her lungs was told when i go into labour the hospital wont stop it as she a fair size baby and i have spd which if any of you lovely ladies have it you will know hurts like hell i also have a over curvicture of my spine not being helped by baby i sleep on average of 3hrs a nite that it then run around after a v hyper4yr old will i harm my baby if i take casteroil as have lost my plug and cervix open also had a fetal fybernecting? test wich 2 weeks ago said labour was inmminant please any advice would b welcome have tryed everything else get hours of contractions then they stop when they are 10 mins apart
Hi I'm 38 weeks just wondering is it ok for me to take to get things moving
I'm 38weeks and 6 days and I tried the castor oil twice, 3days apart. And it didn't work for me neither time. I have already dialated and effaced 1cm but I Tess that means nothing to a baby. They will come when they feel like it and it our job to loan our bodies to them to abuse in the process. Lol I've had braxton Hicks for about 2months now and this is my second child. So statistics sucks :-p... But anywho what doesn't work for one may work for the other...Good luck Ladies and have a safe And healthy delivery / baby :-)
I took 2 teaspoon of castor oil and I'm due tomorrow do you think it would work? I'm feeling nothing so far.
Hi im 39 weeks I just took some castol oil I really hope it works cause im really tired of being in pain
So I took the castroil today been having diariah for bout 6hours I went for a long walk an been feeling a little contractions.. Should I take another tble spoon or wait?
Hello I'm on my third child and my due date is in 4 days but I can't take the back pain no more. Been thinking about taking the castrol oil, but my family is worried! Should I wait it out somemore days????
I'm 39 wk's and I'm 3cm open and because I'm not getting the contraction every 5 to 2 min she don't want to put me to give birth however my contraction are every 10 to 15 min. Do you think I'm able to try castor oil with no problem to my hemorrhoids or is it a good idea to do this method to get my contraction going?
There is no real way to know if your body is ready. Some are ready at 38 weeks, others at 41.
Iam 39 and5 days I only have 2more days till my due date do you think that me an my babys bodys arr ready for labor and is it a gud idea to try the castrol oil?
I am 38 weeks and am thinking about using castro oil u have been having very bad lower back pain and even worse acid reflex. Should i try it?
hey im 39 weeks nd 5days my due date is sunday nd my midwife told me ii havent opened yet im thinking about takeing castor oil should ii take it or just wait till my due date past then take it?
Susette, you can try it. As pointed out in the article it may not work. The best dosage is 1-1.5 tablespoons max. There is no point in taking too much - that can just hurt you.
well im 39 weeks pregnate an trying to p[repare for labor is it ok to drink it right now how much should i drink im not dialated at all
Shante' as long as you remain hydrated and are prepared for side effects for a short time, I don't see why not.
I am 40 + weeks pregnant...my body is in so much discomfort from this pregnancy still not dialated yet....do you think i shout give this castor oil a try i have been doin my research an i am really considering it.
i toke catro oil with my first child when i was 38 weeks i think i toke 2 tbl spoons and then ran up and down a hill bout 6 hours later my water broke downfall i was in labor for 13hours..but it worked for me
I am 37 wks and 2 days this is my fourth child and I am in pain carrying this bby is it safe for me to drink castor oil at this po
int
Hi, im 38 weeks n dialated 3cm i n have bin feeling contractions for a week already. I took castro oil yesterday at 4:30 pm and around 6pm i was vomiting. I started feeling contractions every 10 minutes after throwing up. Around 11:30 i went to bed an my husband rubbed my back to help with the pain. I fell asleep, n would walk up every so often when i would get a pain. I woke up a 6:30am and i havent had any strong pains im a little lost! Should i take some more castro oil? I took 4 teaspoons the first time...
I took castor oil to induce the labour of my second child. It was her due date and my first birth was a fast 5 hours. My biggest concern was being stuck in a car or something and having my 19 month old deliver her sister (it would have been a great story though). I drank it at my toddlers bedtime 7pm, dealt with the inevitable trips to the washroom, for about 2 hrs, and sat on my birthing ball. I went to sleep about 10:30, cause I was bored by the Braxton hicks, and woke up half an hour later with a different contraction that I remembered from my first birth. At midnight, The hospital wouldnt admit me, cause I was only 1-2 cm. Good thing I didn't listen to them and stuck it out in the waiting room. She was born at 2:32am.
It worked for me, but I know of others that it hasnt worked for, even at 39 or 40 wks. I think it should be a last resort for someone who is just anxious to meet their baby.
Just a heads up that the normal range of term is 38 to 42 weeks. So meaning if you go into labor at the end of 42 weeks, that is scientifically safe, healthy, and normal. I'm at 42 weeks or nearing 40 weeks (depending on which test results they are using) and plan to go 2 more weeks with no interventions. In my opinion, if the baby is not ready or fully developed, why force it to come out? (My midwife said that one of her 4 kids was born at 44 weeks, perfectly healthy. It happens more than we would imagine.)
Ash, it's unlikely that it will work at this early stage in pregnancy.
It only works if baby is almost ready to arrive (generally after 40 weeks).
Right now it will likely make you uncomfortable.
It can only hurt baby if you took a large dose (more than a tablespoon) or don't drink water (as it is a laxative, you need to make sure you stay hydrated.)
im 37 weeksn dialate one cm. I took some like 10 mins ago bc i have been in alot of pain. Can it hurt the baby???
Unless your body is nearly ready to deliver, I don't think it will work that early.
It's possible to be effaced and dilated weeks before labour begins.
I am 37 weeks pregnant and dialated to a 3 and 90% thinned out I am being medically induced next week and I had that done with my daughter and the labour pains were way worse than they were with my son so I was thinking about inducing ut myself by drinking castor oil.do you think that it will work?
I am 37 weeks pregnant 50% thinned out and 2 1/2 centimeters dilated would it be ok for me to take some castor oil?
Hi I'm 37 weeks almost 38 I'm having a ceaserean at 39 weeks can someone let me know if its okay to take castor oil? I did so at 5:30pm its now 7:45pm and no effect whatsoever i only took 2 tsp
Hello Nearlythere,
It really depends on how the hospital plans to medically induce. If they are forced to use pitocin, which is the medical equivelant of oxytocin (the hormone that starts labour), you can have more severe contractions because the drug is being given at set intervals instead of being released naturally by your body.
Most natural induction methods are unlikely to give you labours that are any different to a normal one - since they usually just get labour going with a gentle nudge. Just remember that shorter labours are said to be more painful because your body is doing all that work in half the time.
This article on what to expect in a medical induction might be helpful if you're looking for further information about how your doctor will induce: http://wizzley.com/what-to-expect-in-a-medical-ind
Hello!
I am 38+5 at the mo and trying to weigh up the options as to post date induction.. I have heard that when you are medically indced at the hosp you may have a much morw painful labour and atronger contractions.. Is this the same for natural induction auch as Castor Oil?!
Thanks in advance x
Anastacia I believe that you're trying far too early. As a natural induction method, castor oil will only work if you're near labour. All it will do if you're this early is simply make you very uncomfortable. I'd strongly recommend you sit back and wait - babies who go to 40 weeks have both a stronger chance of survival in the first year and are less likely to be born with complications.
Please don't take any more castor oil as it's obviously not working and will likely dehydrate you or cause other issues. Drink lots of water and wait another few weeks.
Any thing?
Four days ago, Saturday evening i had a table spoon of castor oil at about 8pm, at about 5:30 the next morning i had very bad cramps around my lower tummy and back, it felt as if baby was pushing down, i went into hospital at about 6 am as i was having three pains in 10mins, the mid wife however told me that the mouth of my womb hasn't opened and that i should return when the pains are stronger,she gave me some med to ease the pain. I got home at 8am and had another table spoon and went to bed, i haven't had any pain or effects since then, and its been 4 days. I'm 37 weeks and am in a lot of pain, i cant walk at times find it difficult to get up when im laying down, when my bladder is full sometimes not even its very pain full, when i was about 34 weeks i had a bladder infection but it has cleared and has not been back ever since. please advise as my mid wife has not been much help regarding
I have used castor oil to naturally induce all 6 of my labours and it has worked without fail everytime, I found that i never really got the laxative effect so i was very lucky i think this was because i took it just before bed.i had no complications with any of their births and they were all happy healthy babies.I am currently pregnant with number 7 and will definately be using this method again when i feel the time is right.
Good point to highlight that castor oil can increase the risk of dehydration. I'm not sure that a lot of moms know that. You see castor oil discussed all over the place as a way to get labor moving, but you really have to be careful about making sure you have enough fluids. Nobody needs a dehydrated laboring mama :)
brownela 2 days ago
im 39 weeks and im thinking using the castor oil method. i am very tired i cant sleep at night i have pain on my virganity and on my lower abdomen. should i try it?