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January 12, 2011

How To Induce Naturally

As for trying to induce labor to avoid c-section since I MAY have a big baby, I am NOT gonna try castro oil....now I did try w/ Evan & took half a dose...it would have worked if I took the whole dose..I didn't have poo at all, just contractions but they were not consistent enough to go to the hospital.

Evening Primrose Oil (EPO)

I am planning on starting the EPO (Evening Primrose Oil)  (or this EPO link) at 36 weeks orally & vaginally at 37 weeks I believe.
  • The use of evening primrose oil to start labor has been around for a long time, and many midwives swear by this technique when helping pregnant patients prepare for delivery. Evening primrose oil does not directly trigger the start of labor, but works by softening and ripening the cervix. This allows the baby's head to engage in the pelvis, thereby encouraging dilation. Not everyone agrees that evening primrose oil will help to soften the cervix.
* I'll talk w/ my OB at my 36 week check up about the use evening primrose oil orally & vaginally and make certain my membranes are intact.

I'd take two 500mg capsules of evening primrose daily, as soon as I'm 36 weeks.
Start vaginally at 37 weeks.

Raspberry Leaf Tea

Also plan on getting Raspberry Leaf tablets or tea tomorrow and start taking it now which helps your uterine muscles for shorter & smoother births.  My longest labor was w/ Evan at 9 hours but that is due to his size & getting stuck.  My shortest was w/ Avery at 6 hours.
  • Tablets - Take two 300mg or 400mg tablets with each meal (three times a day) from 32 weeks.
  • Teabags - 1st trimester- one cup per day -2nd trimester - two cups per day -3rd trimester - up to 4 to 5 teabag cups throughout the day.
  • Loose leaf tea - Bring one cup of water to the boil. Remove from heat and add one teaspoon of the herb. Stir, cover and let sit for ten minutes (do not boil the herb), strain and sip. Adding sugar or honey many improve the taste. 2 to 3 cups per day is often recommended especially after 28 weeks of pregnancy. 

History on my last pregnancy & birth experience, I was induced at 39 weeks per my request & OB since I had Group B Strep and wanted to make sure I got all my antibiotics in before delivery.  My labor was very slow due to dilating.  I was kinda stuck at 7 for about 2 hours.  When I was finally 10, I started pushing and Evan shoulder's got stuck (shoulder dystocia) which they had to press on my stomach and manveur my hips to get him out.  (I was told Owen, my oldest,  the biggest baby my pelvic/pubic bone could handle and he was 7lbs 14 oz at birth and was born at 37 weeks.)  Evan ended up being fine but he weighed 8 lbs 6 oz....to big to fit.

You can read my history with this pregnancy here at 28 weeks & here at 32 weeks about my ultrasounds regarding the big baby.  

What do you guys think?

6 comments:

  1. I think you should do what you are comfortable with, but make sure your doctor is in on it. I wish you an easy labor!

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  2. I can't believe you're so far along already - where does time go?! I haven't heard of EPO or raspberry leaf tea but it's believed here by many people that a nice hot curry can bring on labour! Never tried it myself so can't vouch for it personally!

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  3. I cant believe you are that far already! Its seems as though it was yesterday! I have HUGE babes but I have birthing hips! lol All I need to do is to have my drs strip my membranes and then I am in labor in about 4 hours after! Good luck with all of those.

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  4. I did the membrane stripping with my first as well. I'm hoping not to get past 38 weeks with this one! I'm 24 weeks right now and can't wait to meet this little guy! Good luck to you!

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  5. I had raspberry leaf tea with all my 3 and no it didn't work :-( DS1 born a week late, DS2 born on his due date and DD a day early. All 3 were BIG babies so we tried absolutely EVERYTHING poor DH went to work for a rest ;-) Good luck.

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  6. Jo, Raspberry Leaf Tea is only to help w/ uterine muscles for shorter & smoother births only.

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