39 weeks can i take castor oil

Castor oil is a pale or yellow vegetable oil that's pressed from castor beans, and it can be found in most drug and health food stores. Although it has been used for centuries to treat a variety of health conditions and is most often taken orally as a liquid laxative, it is also a widely-used and effective way to start contractions after 40 weeks of pregnancy. According to Karly Nuttall, licensed midwife and hormone specialist who has helped deliver over babies during her two decades of clinical experience,.

Using castor oil to induce labor is simultaneously a good and bad idea. It's strong and often effective when no other non-chemical methods of induction work, but you pay the price in intestinal woes!

My clients who have been brave enough [ I am a certified birth doula and owner of Trimester Talk , a leading pregnancy website. During the 41st week of my own pregnancy, I decided to drink a little castor oil as a last-ditch effort to get things moving, and it worked.

Below, you'll find all the research I conducted and the questions I found answers for in order to make my decision. But here are some facts that might help you make a decision:. A tablespoon or two of castor oil should be enough to start contractions. Medical opinion on the subject varies widely. Some obstetricians and midwives regularly recommend the use of castor oil to induce labor 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. If you want to do more research on your own—which I recommend—you may want to start with some of the studies and publications listed here.

Hoping to sip your way into labor with a castor oil cocktail? Women have been passing down this yucky tasting tradition for generations on the theory that this powerful laxative will stimulate your bowels, which in turn will stimulate your uterus into contracting.

The caveat for this one: Castor oil even mixed with a more appetizing drink can cause diarrhea, severe cramping and even vomiting. Before you chug-a-lug, be sure you're game to begin labor that way. Many medical induction aids, including Pitocin, are also commonly used both in abortion and in birth. The short answer: You drink it. Some people drink it straight, while others prefer to mix it with something. Here are some suggestions:.

There is some debate about how much castor oil should be used to induce labor. Many people recommend taking half a cup or more of castor oil. Personally, I'd only recommend taking tablespoons at most. Take enough to let the oil do its job, but don't overdo it—in fact, taking too much can lead to severe dehydration. Castor oil is a thick liquid which some people do not like the taste of at all. Others say it is nearly tasteless. It is a thick, clear, oily liquid similar in taste and consistency to cooking oil.

Some report a soapy taste as well. If you need to, you can either mix or "chase" it with any kind of juice, tea, or liquid you'd normally drink. Have a tall glass of water on hand to wash it down. It can take anywhere from two to six hours for castor oil's effects to begin, and the effects can last from one to six hours. Mix the castor oil with other liquids to help it go down more easily. I decided to try castor oil as a last-ditch effort when I was at 41 weeks.

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 3 p. I was running to the toilet from approximately p. I cleaned my house so I was ready, just in case, and at about p.

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 four hours later, a healthy 8 pounds, 4 oz, with no complications.

She had an almost perfect Apgar score of 9 followed by a In hindsight, I would not induce labor with castor oil again, because now I'm aware that I can refuse medical induction.

However, I would still choose it instead of Pitocin in the event I needed it. You might have a powerful reaction, so it's smart to start small. Take a tablespoon or two and wait to see how your body responds. If nothing happens within 6 hours, you might consider taking a little more.

It usually takes at least two hours, but 7 at most, for the oil to work, if it's going to. Women have been using various methods to prompt contractions since the beginning of time. Pitocin, a synthetic form of your body's oxytocin, is used in hospitals throughout the world to induce labor.

It is always recommended that you wait until your baby is due before you try to give birth. Get an ultrasound to verify your due date. It's important to let your baby grow at its own pace and let your body's natural cycles work. It is not recommended that you try to induce labor before 40 weeks. If you're hoping to use it as a laxative, not as a means of inducing labor, you should consider a different method. Talk to your doctor. The last days of pregnancy can be very difficult and uncomfortable, and it's very hard to wait, but still, inducing labor before 40 weeks is not recommended.

Although no reliable studies have been done, some believe that the oil might have the same laxative effect on the baby as it does on mom. See "The Meconium Debate" above. Although castor oil might promote the release of prostaglandin receptors and help trigger the cervix to dilate, there is no reliable evidence to support this fact. However, it often sets off contractions which, in turn, lead to dilation and effacement of the cervix.

There is a big and ongoing debate about whether inducing labor increases the risk of having a C-section. In studies of castor oil cited above, the rates of cesarean section vs. In addition, "The incidence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid, Apgar scores, and birth weights was similar in both groups. If you're going to try inducing with castor oil or have already, I'd love to receive a comment below with your experience.

Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency. Question: I am 37 weeks pregnant, and I have consumed castor oil to induce labor. However, I feel completely normal, should I take some more? Answer: As outlined in the article, it can take up to 6 hours to start seeing side effects of an average castor oil dosage.

It's also best to limit the amount of castor oil taken during a 24 hour period, to avoid severe delayed side effects due to taking too large a dose. Answer: Absolutely not. Castor oil has a powerful impact on your bowels and entire body, so it's not an option to be used without proper knowledge or need.

It should only be used when past forty weeks, and when other less invasive options have not worked. At thirty-four weeks, a baby's lungs and brain have not finished development, and your baby hasn't gained all the weight and functions that develop in the last four weeks of pregnancy.

A baby born at thirty-four weeks will end up in special care, and likely have difficulty with feeding, temperature control and be at higher risk of health issues. If you feel that the pregnancy is too painful or uncomfortable, find a medical practitioner or qualified natural health practitioner who can assess the problems and offer ways of dealing with them, without giving birth this early.

I took one full bottle of castor oil once at my 40 weeks ,i had diarrhea and mild pain under my belly that comes and goes for like three times and stoped but waited for contraction for 6days now but it didnt happen ,now i dont know if i should take castor oil again , please i need your advice cuz am 40 weeks and 6days today thanks. The next 2 pregnancies I tried same mixture at 38 weeks because I hate being pregnant, it starts labour strong and hard so we ran to the hospital only to have the contractions die off each time after about 5 hours.

I will say though all babies came out fine with no merconium problems and mixing with peanut butter seems to stave off diarrhea and vomiting. Currently in 4th pregnancy, 38wk and just tried it again, same problem. Your body really does need to be ready. So chances are I will just have to uncomfortably wait 2 more weeks.

I had castor oil at am l started having diarrhea at 10am until pm is it normal l have 40 weeks there is no sing of labour does that mean it didn't work for me. I might have messed up. Im only 29 weeks but i couldnt poop so my friend told me to take it. Im 20 and this is my 1st baby.. What do i do. I took some already then got sick and now have the runs. Is my baby going to be ok if i give birth after this!! Hi there, I am 38 weeks pregnant and I tried using castor oil to jump start labor.

However, the only thing I came across with my experience was the normal side effects of the laxative. I did have a few contractions but nothing to get labor going. With my experience and listening to others, i do belive this only works if you have begun effacing or if your body is going to begin labor soon as it is. I am 37 weeks, 3rd baby. I drank CO at pm started having contractions and a lot of painful tightening.

My son woke up so I had to put him back down. While doing so they stopped. At 2am I drank 2tbsp more with orange juice. And the tightening and contractions are back and constant. Its hard to even time it. What should I do? I dont want to go thru triage to just be sent home. I havent lost mucus plug and water hasnt broke. As 37weeks 3days and my baby is breech and I was advised to take Castro oil,hope it wont affect my baby and if it induce labor will my baby be considered as a full term baby or not.

I mixed the castor oil with orange juice and drank it fairly quickly since taste and texture never bothered me. The next day I started having a few contractions but at 1 am in the morning they hit hard.

I walked around for about 45 minutes before they checked again and I was at 3cm. I had my beautiful girl at pm. With my second baby I took it at exactly 38 weeks around 2am.

If you take castor oil, know that you're likely to experience some unpleasant side effects, as well as the unpalatable taste of the tonic. The side effects of castor oil may include:.

However, some studies do show that using castor oil for induction is a safe option that does not result in a higher prevalence of these complications. Still, care must be taken to avoid dehydration, which can be dangerous for laboring mothers. Plus, consider that the side effects of castor oil could deplete energy stores, making labor and delivery more difficult. The vast majority of studies that have looked at castor oil for labor induction found no significant difference in the type of birth cesarean or vaginal or the length of labor.

The biggest risk was maternal tolerance, which means how well the mothers tolerated the castor oil. Additionally, as noted above, there is also a risk of dehydration if you have excessive vomiting or diarrhea. If so, be sure you are getting enough fluids either by drinking water or, if, in a hospital, you may get IV fluids, if needed.

Never attempt a castor oil induction without working with your practitioner. It is always wise to talk to your midwife or doctor about any induction method before using it. Additionally, induction before your due date is not a good idea if there is no medical reason.

Plus, remember that even if you are a good candidate for induction, a castor oil induction may not be the best option for you.

There are reports of having the baby within hours of a castor oil induction or the induction taking days if it works at all. Of course, there are many of the same reports labor happening suddenly and quickly as well as delayed or prolonged labors from women who do not take castor oil. However, a five-year retrospective study found that low-risk pregnant women over 40 weeks gestation who were given castor oil were significantly more likely to go into labor within 24 hours than the control group.

When labor has yet to start and there is no medical reason to induce, the reasonable alternative recommendation to castor oil or using any interventions is to do nothing and simply wait for labor to begin on its own. If there is a medical need for induction of labor, there are many options available, including:.

The decision to use one of these methods or a combination of them should be between you and your practitioner. Castor oil may be best known as a laxative. Ingesting small amounts of castor oil can cause spasms in the intestines, which can stimulate the bowels and vagal nerve. This spasm-and-stimulation duo may then irritate the uterus, which can begin contracting. This can cause diarrhea and possibly contractions.

Castor oil might also promote the release of prostaglandin receptors, leading to the cervix dilating. The results of castor oil inducing labor are mixed.

A small study published in Alternative Therapies of Health and Medicine revealed that over half of those dosed with castor oil went into active labor within 24 hours. This is compared to only 4 percent beginning labor in the same timeframe without any treatment. But another larger study, published nearly 10 years later in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , again looked at using castor oil.

This can lead to exhaustion. It may also cause your baby to pass meconium, or their first stool, before delivery. This can be problematic after birth. According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , a pregnancy is considered full-term between 39 weeks and 40 weeks, 6 days.

In most cases, inducing labor is a medical decision made for the safety of you and your baby. For example, castor oil can help with constipation. Learn more about castor oil and constipation here. Castor oil also has potential benefits for the face and skin. Read about them here. According to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , castor oil will likely cause uterine contractions and irritation.

Although these may appear to be labor contractions, they are more likely the result of digestive distress than actual labor. In fact, they go on to say that women who take oral castor oil are no more likely to go into labor than those who do not.

However, one recent study found that there is a connection between taking castor oil and inducing labor. The study concluded that castor oil may induce labor within 24 hours if a woman is 40 weeks pregnant. Researchers conducted the study using women in their 40th and 41st weeks of pregnancy, over a period of 5 years. A smaller study , this time from , found that Only 4.

Evidence from this study suggests that castor oil may help induce labor. However, one study found no connection between taking castor oil and inducing labor. This study included over participants in week 40 or above of their pregnancy. The study concluded that castor oil had no effect on the time of birth.

It also did not seem to have any harmful effects. A study found that castor oil induction is more effective in women who have had babies previously. The researchers reported no adverse effects from their sample of 81 pregnant women.