How much castor oil..

[jivemama]

do you need to drink? I am sooo ready to get this baby movin, that I am resorting to this. I have tried everything else and nothing seems to work. I know the baby will come when he/she is ready but if I go too late I have to deliver at the hospital and be induced (pitocin) when I really want to deliver with my midwife at the birthing center. She tried to strip my membranes yesterday, but I was closed up too tight and she couldn't reach it! Ahhh!!!

TIA

[BrandiL]

Ah, it wasn't so long ago that I was as desperate as you are right now!

I tried the castor oil because I was fast approaching the date when I would have to deliver in the hospital as well and it did NOT work. It tasted horrible. I didn't get it down the first try and it made me throw up. All it did was make me miserable for a day while my guts churned and I haad to run to the toilet every 20 minutes.
There is also some speculation that it can cause the baby to have a bowl movement while it is still in the uterus - this didn't happen to me though. It is a preferable alternative to pitocin though - so I see why you would want to use it. And I know there are some women who swear it works - but if you are not dialated or effaced at all then it probably won't do anything for you.

There are some things you can do to help ripen your cervix though that are more pleasant and a have a lot less of the gross factor! Have you discussed taking Evening Primrose Oil with your midwife? You can take it orally or insert it up against your cervix. You've probably tried sex and walking already.

Anyway, I won't give the dosage for the castor oil beacause I am not a health care professional - you should really give your midwife a call and ask her.

Keep faith - I know what you are going through. It is so stressful when you are waiting and I know that I actually convinced myself that the baby was never going to be born! The baby will come out though and I hope it will be soon for you.

Good luck and ((HUGS)).

[karin]

toh

please don't do it until you are facing a trip to the hospital. it is truly awful. i had to do it when my water had been broken almost 24 hours. i still can't look at a glass of oj! and it didn't work for me even though i was 4 cm and 100% effaced.

[stargirl]

I remember being at this stage. My dd came 11 days past her edd. On her own. I have not heard good things about castor oil. Just hang on a little longer!