How much evening primrose oil to take for labor

Doctors and midwives may provide different guidelines depending on your unique medical history. Most of the positive experiences of evening primrose oil are anecdotal. The capsules are often taken in conjunction with other natural induction methods, including consumption of red raspberry leaf tea, nipple stimulation, and sexual intercourse. While there is a lot of scientific research that still needs to be done to fully evaluate the safety and efficiency of EPO, there are some pros and cons we can consider based on the information we have now.

There are other methods commonly used to help women naturally induce labor. These methods include:. Always consult your doctor before attempting to induce labor. Do not try to induce labor before 40 weeks of pregnancy. The capsules can be taken orally, but some women insert them directly into their vaginas. Others drain the oil from the capsules and rub it directly onto their cervix during the last days or weeks of pregnancy. Some midwives recommend evening primrose oil supplements to induce labor naturally.

The oil is thought to help thin the cervix, which can encourage it to dilate and jumpstart labor. And in some women, it might increase the risk for serious complications. He or she can help you weigh the pros and cons to determine whether the supplement is a good option for you. Can Castor Oil Induce Labor?

What Is Pitocin Induction? Probably not, according to the latest findings. A randomized clinical trial published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology found that evening primrose oil had no effect on cervical ripening or speeding up labor.

In fact, some research has shown that taking evening primrose oil during pregnancy is tied to a longer, slower labor. So why do some women and providers swear by it? It could be that women who take evening primrose oil and begin to have contractions shortly afterwards were very close to going into labor anyway. But a few potential downsides have been noted, including:. Slower labor with more interventions.

Record how far apart they are from the beginning of one to the beginning of the next and how long they last from the beginning to the end of each contraction. When contractions have been 5 minutes apart or closer and lasting 60 seconds or longer for at least an hour, please call us. NOTE: If you have given birth before and experienced a quick labor, please inform the doctor or midwife on call. After hours, select the prompt for an emergency to be connected to our answering service.

They will contact either the doctor or midwife on call, so if you want the midwife to come please tell them you are a midwife patient. Be sure to keep your line open for a return call. It is important to talk to the physician or midwife on call before you make the trip to the hospital.

EXCEPTION: If you are experiencing a serious complication such as bright red, heavy vaginal bleeding like a period, then just call, give your information, and go directly to the hospital.

Many women experience low back pain with contractions during labor. Lingering pain between contractions, while less common, can also occur. Fortunately, maternal positions to ease back pain can also make it easier for a baby to rotate into an ideal position. This position provides immediate help for low back pain and lets gravity help a baby to turn, if needed.

It has the additional benefit of being THE BEST maternal position for good blood flow to the placenta, bringing lots of oxygen to baby. Gentle, rhythmic pelvic rocks or side-to-side swaying of the hips might help, too. If desired, you can roll the ball back and forth slightly, creating a gentle movement.

Having a labor support person apply pressure with their hands to your lower back during contractions can ease some of the pain. You will need to guide them as to how much pressure feels right and just where they need to push.

Two tennis balls in a sock with a knot in the top can be a handy tool to massage and to apply counter pressure at the same time. The sock just keeps the balls from rolling off the bed and bouncing around the room! A warm or cold pack being pressed against the sore area may feel good.

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Bahmani S et al. Kalati, M. Evening primrose oil and labour, is it effective? A randomised clinical trial. Journal of Obstetrics and Gyneacology.

Mayo Clinic. Evening primrose. Najafi, M. The effect of vaginal evening primrose on the Bishop score of term nulliparous women. Nursing Practice Today. Shahali, S. The effect of vaginal evening primrose capsule on cervical ripening in nulliparous women with post-term pregnancy: A clinical trial. Join now to personalize.

Photo credit: ThinkStock. What is evening primrose oil?