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I don't know much about castor oil. I think I looked into it and then decided against it, but then I only 38 weeks at that point. I had an induction for GD at 39 weeks, which I'd been hoping to avoid.

It's possible that if you are induced it might be the kickstart your body needs to go into labor, considering how far along you are. If I was in your position, I would ask the doctor about doing the cervidil but holding off on pitocin if contractions start on their own. Once you're on pit you have a whole different labor experience. Or if contractions don't start, ask if they can start you on pit and then reduce or remove it if you do get jumpstarted into labor.

I took it! I was 41 weeks too. And my mother in law had come to visit from out of town so I was a bit pressured. Actually, the reason I was a bit more open to it was because one of the midwives had mentioned it as something some women took. I didn't want to be induced either.

I don't think I could have swallowed it straight so I took it with orange juice or something after dinner and after an hour later, I started getting some light contractions. My labour ended up taking a long time but everything was fine otherwise. I ended up with a vaginal delivery and epidural.

The way it really works is basically making you have terrible diarrhea and so all the intestinal cramping irritates the neighboring smooth muscle - uterus, theoretically inducing contractions. Worth it? I don't know. One of the women in my prenatal group did it as a last ditch (apparently the tip is to blend it with peanut butter) and it worked and she had a very quick natural delivery for her first baby! But also felt horrible prior to labor starting

Just wanted to clarify that although I took castor oil, I did not have diarrhea. I think it does irritate the lower abdomen area to get things going and I think it got the job done in my experience.

The contractions felt like they should (it was my first so, I actually have no idea!), but it was manageable and progressed with time.

I would not take it. My birthing class instructor, nurses and Dr advised against it.

I took it at 41+1 and my labor started 6 hours later. I did NOT have any side effects from the caster oil (gas, diarrhea, cramps etc). It was recommended to me by two doctors in my practice (to avoid an induction scheduled for 41+3).

My sister, and another mom in my birth month group from weddingbee also used caster oil and had the same experience as me - started labor with no side effects.

@StellaJane : I drank it with orrange juice. I think it was a couple tablespoons of the oil and the rest of the glass of orange juice. I don't remember exactly how much but I had googled several websites on it at the time. I think the secret is not to overdose, which may be the reason for extreme diarrhea/vomitting.

my friend took castor oil... it cleaned out her bowels and she felt awwwful. but then baby came. and came so quickly, she ended up having him at home! by the time the midwife arrived, she was 10cm and didn't have a chance to get to the birthing centre! just anecdotal but that's the only experience i know of with castor oil.

good luck and whatever you choose, have a great labour and a healthy babe!

@lamariniere: haha! So easy to give yourself, though! I did it because i was afraid of laboring with all my GI issues. And i'm glad I did, because a side effect of pitocin is diarrhea and I'm so glad I just, well, didn't have much left. Laboring on a toilet is the worst experience ever.

Good point @theotherstark:! I also had a pain med free induction.

@blackbird: haha! It was definitely nice to know that only a baby was coming out when I started pushing.

@StellaJane: I also survived an induction (just pitocin, no foley bulb or anything else) at 41+5 without epidural or other interventions. Also bought castor oil and stared at it and never did it. Good luck!

@StellaJane: I was in your exact position with my first and took castor oil at 41 weeks. Took it in the morning and labor started that afternoon. 12 hour med-free birth. I didn't find the side effects to be that bad and definitely would have done it again!

I really urge you not to take it! Especially if you haven't consulted with your doctor/midwife. What it can do is progress labor TOO quickly, so that you get to the point of bearing down before you're fully dilated and effaced, this can cause fetal distress, excruciating pain, and likely a cause for an emergency C-section. Of course it doesn't happen every time and I don't want to scare you, but it's a big risk and I'd really like you to speak with a medical professional about this! Even my midwife, who is more on the natural side, was very against it.

Good luck and hope labor starts naturally for you soon!

The meconium issue made me chicken out. So I didn't do it. And I REALLY wanted to. I just didn't want to chance that.

FWIW, I was induced with cervidil and Pit and was only a loose 1. Even though my induction lasted from 8pm Sunday night to 6am Tuesday morning, I had a vaginal delivery - no complications. Induction does not equal C-section. And I've read some studies lately that suggest that the cervidil protocol (12 hours) prior to pit has for some reason greatly lowered the C-section rates for inductions.

Don't do it! Meconium is no joke and not worth the risk. It's also supposed to be an awful experience and doesn't necessarily work. I had an induction at 40 +5 also a loose 1 cm for medical reasons and I was able to have a vaginal birth within 20 hours. We used cervidril and no pitocin.

No advice on the castor oil, but I wanted chime in and add to what the others have said--I was induced, and it wasn't awful at all! In fact, I quite enjoyed it. I went straight to pitocin (no cervidil), and though I did have an epidural, my labor was quick, and I was able to give birth vaginally with no c-section risk.

@StellaJane: do you think your water broke naturally at that point? Or did it make you crampy? I think by natural labor contractions are rougher once your water breaks!

I was under similar conditions and took it too!