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. Before you decide to try to induce labor with castor oil, you should consult your doctor.
Every pregnancy is different. List of Partners vendors. Castor oil was once routinely prescribed by many doctors and midwives to induce labor. The theory of labor induction with castor oil is that it acts as a stimulant to the bowels, which irritates the uterus and causes contractions.
This recommendation is not as common as it once was because of the lack of evidence for its efficacy. Castor oil is a vegetable oil derived from the castor bean, which contains ricinoleic acid. It has been used for generations to help ease constipation or induce vomiting when needed, much like syrup of ipecac. It is odorless but foul-tasting.
Some of its other uses include as a topical application to stimulate hair growth and as a skin lubricant. While some mothers report feeling the stirring of their intestines within an hour or two of using castor oil to induce labor, others are not affected.
As noted above, using castor oil may promote labor by stimulating contractions in the uterus, much like it does in the intestines and bowels. 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.
Castor oil can interfere with your system's ability to absorb nutrients, and in some cases taking castor oil can lead to side effects such as. Contact your provider immediately if you experience any allergic reactions. There are some situations in which your healthcare provider may recommend that the safest course of action is inducing labor.
In these types of cases, your healthcare provider may recommend inducing labor by medication or by one of a few different procedures that either rupture the amniotic sac or help open the cervix with the aim of encouraging contractions to start.
If you're growing impatient and ready to meet your little one, hang in there, and always feel free to reach out to your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns. However, the mother may experience side effects from ingesting castor oil. Some potential side effects could include:. Women with sensitive stomachs or other gastrointestinal conditions should avoid taking castor oil.
Also, those who have had a cesarean delivery in the past should never attempt castor oil ingestion while pregnant. Learn why below. In most cases, the body will induce labor when it is ready to give birth. Some women may go into preterm labor, while others may go into labor later than their expected due date. Importantly, women who have had a cesarean delivery should never attempt to induce labor. This is because it can cause uterine rupture.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine describe the journey to full term in the following ways:. If a woman is at full term or beyond and yet to give birth, a healthcare professional will likely consider inducing labor or possibly scheduling a cesarean delivery.
There are no proven ways to induce labor at home. A doctor or healthcare provider can induce labor in a hospital or other clinical setting.
Anyone concerned about going into labor should speak with a doctor or healthcare provider before attempting any methods themselves. People should avoid using castor oil to try to induce labor, as there is no scientific evidence to prove its effectiveness for this purpose. It is much safer to work with a doctor if it is time to induce labor. Inducing labor before 40 weeks poses a risk to the fetus. No studies have found any direct risks or dangers for the fetus in using castor oil, but in the mother, it can cause diarrhea, false contractions, dehydration, and other stomach-related side effects.
There are no proven home methods for inducing labor, but a doctor or healthcare provider can help to induce labor in a clinical setting if there is a need for it.
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