Herbs for induction (your opinion please)

[Mumof2+1]

Just wanting your opinions or experiences with herbal remedies for induction of labour.
Those of you who have read my other threads will know whats been going on with me. Due to symphis pubis disfunction (pelvic displacia) I am in alot of pain & because of this my doctor wants to induce me in the next 2weeks. I'll be about 35-37weeks. With my first bub I was given one dose of prostogladin gel to induce labour because of toximia. I was given a herbal tonic by my herbalist, to take while in labour. I don't know for sure if it helped but my labour was only 2 1/2 hours. I took the same tonic with my second bub & had a 3hour labour.
Yesterday I went to see a naturopath/Herbalist about getting a similar tonic. He will get it to me on Friday. He has also started me on Red rasberry leaf capsules(8 a day). The herbal tonic contains Blue cohosh, squaw vine, False unicorn & golden seal. I have spoken to my doctor about the Red rasberry & she has said to take them. I go back to see her 2morrow & will talk to her then about the tonic. Of cause I won't take it untill I speak to my doctor.(I'm not that stupid)
My doctor says it's safe for the bub to be induced now.
Would like to hear your opinions on taking the herbal tonic to naturaly induce labour. I would rather do it this way if it's safe, than to have an oxitocin drip(I think thats what they use, might be wrong).
Your opinions would be grately appreciated.

Trish
Taylah 8yrs
Jacob 6yrs
34-36 weeks pregnant

[Bec@Brisbane]

Hi My experience with Rasberry Leaf was pretty full on, as I was induced with my first baby nearly 5 years ago(he was 14 days over) i didn't want to go through that again with my daughter, born August 2004, so i did some reading and came up with rasberry leaf tablets and accupunture. Now i was informed by other mothers that the tea had little to-no effect so i should go straight to the tablets and the accuptuncure should only start on due date as it contracts the uterus bringing the baby down into place and can dilate you. So 4 weeks before my due date i started with tablets and on my due date i had a go at accuputure and then again 2 days later, the result was a baby born in just 13minutes GREAT i hear all those 24hour labour mums say, but i just went into shock i admit it was better than being induced but it was a little bit of a worry at how fast she came into the world as I went from no pain to intense to push ,i just made it to the hospital so maybe next time i would only go for one or the other not both together.

Bec :)

[Mumof2+1]

Thanks darl.
2 questions if you don't mind.
1: How many tablets were you taking a day?
2: Who did you see for your accupuncture & how much did it cost?
I don't mind a quick labour as I feel I've suffered enough pain already. I don't care how intence it gets as long as its over soon.

[wattle]

I had double dose of raspberry leaf starting 4 weeks before I was due, but still had to be induced. (My waters broke 5 days over, but no contractions). Don't think it helped me much.

[Bec@Brisbane]

I took 4 tablets a day for the first 2 weeks and then 6 the last two weeks i think it was blackmores brand and the accupuncture was at manly Leanne Zaver 5 Stratton sq 188 Stratton Terrace Manly Qld 4179 Ph3393 3023 I think it was about $50 for first consult and $30 for second but well worth it I had terrible lower back and hip pain with Ruby so it was not only good for bringing baby on it did give slight relief for that as well.

Bec :)

[noniandlilysmum]

Hi there, I am pregnant with my 3rd due in august...
with my 2nd I was 12 days overdue when I took castor oil, which worked for me, I had a labour of 3 hours and 45 minutes, not counting the 2 hours (not quite) I spent on the toilet... I would definately do this all over again, as I can't complain about how my labour went, other than the toilet part which wasn't all bad as it was just like I had diahorrea (sp?), and who hasn't had diahorrea... And also a good clean out, which is good because your not likely to do any nasties on the delivery table (which is probably the last thing on our minds, but what the hey)... Anyway, I was speaking to one of the ladies at my daughters school the other day and she was overdue with both her kids, so she did a bit of research on the net and found a site, which I can't remember the name unfortunately, but she tried one of the remedies she had found, Which was: Raspberry leaf tea 5 cups a day, then she would have sex at night (or whenever is suitable) and her husband would go in her (as semen has the same thing as what is used for induction, not sure of the word), she would then lay on the floor with her legs on the bed, as if she were the shape Z, so the semen would cover the cervix, which she layed this way I think for 20 minutes or half an hour... Within 3 days of doing this technique she had her baby, 36 weeks and 3 days... bub was a healthy 6 pounds 12 and she was one happy lady... I will be trying this from 36 weeks onwards as grosse as it sounds... :)

[our little treasures]

I too have done research on raspberry leaf and some of the herbs used in the tonic you have talked about in particular the squaw vine. As I had a terrible first labour due to bubs being posterior I decided I'll do anything to make sure it ends up being a lot under the 33hrs of true labour I went thru with dd. Anyway the squaw vine apparently is meant to be great for lowering the pain and making it a lot quicker, from memory I believe that the raspberry leaf is the first herb to start taking then the squaw vine but I will check and get back.
Also I've heard that apparently dates have a great natural way of easing the pain of child birth and making it quicker I found this on the same website. I'll try and find it and get back to you.

[Mumof2+1]

Unfortunately because of the pain I'm unable to have sex. Actualy getting very frustrated becuase I haven't been able to have sex for almost all of the pregnancy because I've had 4 micarriges. Have heard of some midwives telling women who's husbands are in the army & won't be around when there bubs are due, to get there husbands to ejaculate into a condom & freeze it then they can use it later to bring on labour. I don't think I would go that far.
I have been warned off of having castor oil this early as it might not be enough to get my labour going but could cause bub to pass meconium in-utero the same as it makes us go to the loo.

[noniandlilysmum]

You poor thing, sex is the most natural way to bring on labour... Bummer there!!! And your probably right with the castor oil, you do have to be careful when taking it, as it doesn't work on everyone... I have a girlfriend who was 21 days over with her 10th (the most beautiful mum I know), and she took castor oil and it did not work, just gave her an awful belly ache... I think the only other think is to go walking, which you would likely find painful with this problem you have... Maybe a naturopath or accupuncturist, anything is worth a go when your in this much pain... Hope you find something that works, let us know when and if you do? :)

[Mumof2+1]

Didn't get the herbal tonic today, it will be here on Monday. Can't wait.
Had to put off doc app until 2morrow. Will let you all know how that goes. Maybe she'll be able to convince the hospital 2 induce me this week :rolleyes:
Well here's to hoping anyway.
I noticed 2day that I have dropped alot. Has made the pain worse. On the plus side though, have had alot of strong braxton hics 2day. Maybe the rasberry is helping. Fingers crossed.
Like I said, will let you all know how I go at the docs 2morrow. Unless of cause I'm in hospital being induced. (I guess you'd say I'm an optimist) :D

Trish

[Kassiasmum]

If you want to try accupunture there is a guy at Jamboree Heights that specialises in pregnancy accupunture - his name is Andrew Orr of Shen Therapies 32785697.

[Mumof2+1]

Trying to pass the time untill I go to the doc.
If she can't organise the induction for this week, I'll definately be checking out the accupuncture. Had a good nights sleep(thanks to the panadine) but woke up tired & feeling quite sick in the tummy, my back has also jioned forces with my pelvis in the pain thing.
My doc app is for 12:30 but have to ring them at 11:30 to see how their going(on time or not) so that I don't have to sit and wait to long. Fortunately my doc surgery is in the next street from my house so I only have to leave home 5 mins before I can see the doc. :D
My how slow time goes when your wanting it to go quickly. :rolleyes:


Trish

[Mumof2+1]

Went to see doc yesterday. No plans for induction as yet. Have an app at the hospital in 2weeks but my doc said if things get worse in the mean time, to ring her and she'll organise an induction as early as next week. The bad news is my doctor wants me to have a c-section as she doesn't think I'll be able to handle a vaginal birth. I realy want a VB.
Still feeling sick in the tummy & have been sleeping all day. The pain is starting to get worse again. Might be ringing my doc sooner rather than later.
Can't wait to get the herbal tonic on Monday. My doc is happy for me to start it right away. She's just abit worried it might cause strong contractions & I won't be able to handle it. Bub's seems to be lower each day & yesterday I had a very slight show, but nothing to get too excited about.
Will let you all know how the herbal tonic goes. I might even put in a phone call to the acupuncturists you have mentioned & see if I can get an app with one of them this week.
Will keep in touch.

Trish
xxx

[Mumof2+1]

Just a quick update to let you know how the herbs are going.
This is my second day of taking them. I take 5ml every 3hours. Have not done anything major yet, but soon after I take them I get a few contractions then it settles down again. This happens shortly after each dose. So fingers crossed I'll be in labour within a week or so. My herbalist has said after a couple of days I should take them every 1 1/2 hours & over the next week decrease the time between doses. So excited this might actualy work :D
Let you know how things progress.

Trish

[Bec@Brisbane]

Hi I hope everything goes well for you, thats great that the herbs look like they are working, just think a brand new addition to the family, i could not wait for my 8 month old to come into the world it felt like for ever esp. with the terrible hip pain i had last trimester, now here i am 8 months on wondering where the time went. Enjoy every minute can't wait to hear all the updates.

Bec

PS did you find out what sex the baby is? :)

[Mumof2+1]

Hi bec,
No we didn't find out the sex. We have a Girl & a boy already & I found out with both of them, so we decided to try the suprise thing this time. Can't wait to see what we have though. My sister is 22weeks pregnant & found out she is having a girl. My sister in law is about 30weeks & is having a boy. It feels weird that I'm having my bub before them but they know the sex of their bubs before me.
I don't care if I have a boy or a girl, leaning more towards a girl. I think only because I like the girls name we have picked out more than the boys. I guess we'll know soon. :D

Trish