Has anyone used evening primrose oil to induce labour?

**jaydensmum** · 23-06-2006 12:29

Im just wondering if anyone's used evening primrose oil to induce labour? Did you take it orally or inserted into the vagina? Did it seem to work? Im just interested cause i dont want to be induced this time and would love to do it naturally.

jaydensmum

**catalicious** · 23-06-2006 12:48

Hi Jaydens mum,

I did use Evening Primrose, inserted into vagina, TMI

anyhow just letting you know that it isnt something that will put you into labor, the idea behind inserting it is to get it close to your cervix, whilst it doesnt actually put you into labor it prepares your cervix for labor.

In that it can help your cervix soften it can also help in making you dilate quicker when the time does actually come.

Keep in mind if it is closer to the time do not use ifyour waters have broken!!

The thing that worked for me when I was pregnant with Lachlan #1! Was Breast Stimulation, with a breast pump. 20 mins on each side I did and then about 2 hours later my water broke.

Although I am also a strong believer that if your body is not ready no amount of trying will work. Wait till it is closer to your date to try most methods, you could start evening primrose now just 2 capsules and that should help you when you dates get closer.

**jaydensmum** · 23-06-2006 13:01

With nipple stimulation you said that you did 20 min on each side how many times did you do that and for how long did you do it in total?

jaydensmum

**catalicious** · 23-06-2006 13:14

Hi I only did it the one time on each side, although other people that I know that have used this method have said they had to do it longer.

When I read up about this during my 2nd Pregnancy it said to do it on one side until you get a contraction then stop for duration of contraction, then do on other side. It said to do this for about 5 or 6 contractions. However if when you stop doing this you dont do something ie:go for a walk or something, then your contractions could stop.

Dont forget though they could stop anyway as your body might not be ready.

I also read that when you use this method the contractions you can get can be alot more painfull and longer than normal contractions.

This might sound a bit full on but apparently somthing better than ALL these methods is Sex Apparently if your cervix is has semen on it, that works lik 50 times better than evening primrose and stuff. I wouldnt know if it works personally but I have heard from many friends it does!!

**jaydensmum** · 23-06-2006 13:25

Ok, thanks for that info. I'll definetly give the sex thing a go, its free and DH would love it!!

So you only did the 20 min thing once on each side? Did it bring on contractions straight away? You said that your waters broke 2 hours later, wow!

jaydensmum

**Sarie** · 23-06-2006 15:01

I also agree that no matter how hard you try if your body isn't ready nothing will work.
For DS1 we had sex and my waters broke within 4 hours.
DS2 we started having sex at 36 weeks and I still had to be induced! I tried pretty much every thing breast stimulation, walking, squats, raspberry leaf tea and tablets.. you name it I tried it!

**flo** · 26-06-2006 21:07

I took EPO tablets orally for the last four weeks then had sex on night b4 due date then on due date waters broke at 5am!!!! I think the sex was best for natural induction but my labour was only 5hrs - thanx to EPO and raspberry leaf tablets!!!

**cwsmum** · 26-06-2006 21:18

Originally Posted by Sarie

DS2 we started having sex at 36 weeks and I still had to be induced!

Same happened to me with DD (bub #2)...I was too lazy/disorganised to try anything else.
DS was born the day after his due date...we had sex the night of his due date and within 3hrs I was having contractions, my waters broke at the hospi less than 30mins before he was born.
The only difference I can think of was that I was walking alot more when I was preg with DS than when I was preg with DD, too much hassle to walk for 30mins witha 2yr old who hated the pram.

**♥Heaven Sent♥** · 01-07-2006 19:37

Have you tried it yet vaginally Jaydensmum i just put one in now does it fully delsolve?I also massasged 5drops clary sage with baby oil and massaged on my tummy.Also a good thing to do is drink pinapple juice it gives me quite strong bh when i drink it.

**jaydensmum** · 02-07-2006 16:28

I dont know if im game enough to stick it inside!!

I have no idea if it fully dissolves, i presume it does. How high do you have to place it? Ive tried the clary sage with oil on your belly but it doesnt work. I dont get any pains at all!

Im going to give pineapple a go though, ive read its worked for some!

jaydensmum