Castor Oil to Induce Labor

Well into my 38^th week of pregnancy with a very large baby boy, desperately wanting to bring an end to the backaches and everything else that comes with being that far along I began to look at ways to induce my own labor.

I was already 2 cm dilated so pretty much ready to go or so I thought. I started having contractions around 8 pm that night. Around one am or so to my disappointment they began to weaken.

Now of course most of who have had children know that sex is a good way to induce labor but with a boyfriend who was out of town that was not an option. Bumpy rides make me sick to my stomach and I was not sure how well stimulating my own nipples would work.

My mom had bought me a bottle of castor oil but I was hesitant to take it. Who wants to sit on a toilet for hours? I had asked my nurse about it and she said it was fine to take. She even told me how to take it. In serious pain from a backache and just wanting to fit into my jeans again, I found myself curiously glancing at the bottle that could set me free from my misery.

I researched it on the internet and found mixed reviews. A few personal accounts I came across seemed to have good luck with this and gave birth to healthy babies within a few hours. I figured worst that would happen was my bowels would be cleaned out and I would not have to worry about pooping while giving birth.

Every one seemed to agree castor oil was some nasty tasting stuff so I figured I would mix it with something strong to hide the taste. My drink of choice was V8 juice. I mixed two ounces of castor oil with a 12 oz can of V8.

I could not taste the castor oil at all but I could feel it. Almost as soon as it hit my lips, I began to gag. Castor Oil just like any other kind of oil does not mix. Somehow, I managed to swallow it all and began my wait.

First hour passed with nothing but a few burps. Second hour was the same as was the third. Just when I began to give up and think it had not worked, I found myself running to the toilet. Within an hour or so of the first episode, I began to have cramps. They were very painful and about 4 minutes apart. I spent a lot of time of the toilet that morning but it has been 5 days and I am still very pregnant.

Personally, I would not recommend doing this. It does seem to work for some people but that could just be coincidence. It did not work for me and I do not plan to try it again. The cramps I felt while the castor oil ripped through my body were terrible and for me just not worth it.

One other important thing to keep in mind is that diarrhea has a tendency to dehydrate people. If you do decide to try, this method here's some tips. Drink a lot of water to stay hydrated and do not wander to far from a toilet. I only drank 2 oz of the stuff but I can tell you it is terrible so I would not take much more than that.

I think maybe the castor oil would have worked better if my body had been more ready. As I said before I was 2 cm dilated but not effaced and that has not changed after drinking the castor oil. I would wait until you were a little further progressed than that and I would only use it as a last resort.