Castor oil is a common ingredient in soaps, coatings, lubricants, and other commercial products. It contains several allergenic proteins, including ricin, which research indicates is a potent and dangerous plant toxin.
However, following the removal of these potentially dangerous substances, people can use castor oil for pharmaceutical purposes. For example, castor oil can help with constipation. Learn more about castor oil and constipation here. Castor oil also has potential benefits for the face and skin. Read about them here. According to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , castor oil will likely cause uterine contractions and irritation. Although these may appear to be labor contractions, they are more likely the result of digestive distress than actual labor.
In fact, they go on to say that women who take oral castor oil are no more likely to go into labor than those who do not. However, one recent study found that there is a connection between taking castor oil and inducing labor.
The study concluded that castor oil may induce labor within 24 hours if a woman is 40 weeks pregnant. Researchers conducted the study using women in their 40th and 41st weeks of pregnancy, over a period of 5 years. A smaller study , this time from , found that Only 4. Evidence from this study suggests that castor oil may help induce labor. However, one study found no connection between taking castor oil and inducing labor. This study included over participants in week 40 or above of their pregnancy.
The study concluded that castor oil had no effect on the time of birth. It also did not seem to have any harmful effects. A study found that castor oil induction is more effective in women who have had babies previously. The researchers reported no adverse effects from their sample of 81 pregnant women. Another study looked back on women who had used castor oil while 40—41 weeks pregnant under the care of their doctor, and they found it to be effective in inducing labor within 24 hours for most of the women.
However, the mother may experience side effects from ingesting castor oil. Some potential side effects could include:. Women with sensitive stomachs or other gastrointestinal conditions should avoid taking castor oil. Castor oil has long been used to relieve constipation. A new study finds that epidurals do not affect child development in their later years. A fetal arrhythmia is an irregular heart rate — too fast, too slow, or otherwise outside the norm. It's often benign. Postpartum diarrhea after a C-section is normal.
Sharing our experiences of pregnancy and infant loss can help us heal. Using breast milk for eczema is a popular home remedy. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.
Helping induce labor. After 40 long weeks of pregnancy, you may be thinking that enough is enough. What is castor oil? Today, castor oil can be found in many nonmedicinal applications: Castor oil is used as a mold inhibitor, food additive, and flavoring agent.
Castor oil is used in manufacturing goods like plastics, fibers, paints, and more. Castor oil for labor. Does it work? Should you induce? You have an infection in your uterus. As I was not having signs of infection and seemed to stop leaking fluid, I decided to give it one more night to see if anything happened. Ultimately, I'm 39 weeks pregnant now So would I take castor oil again? Given the situation, knowing what I know In a situation where it's between castor oil and necessary medical induction, personally I would definitely opt to try the castor oil first, assuming I tried everything else there is to try.
Would I recommend it to anyone? I never recommend any intervention without a discussion with your provider Castor Oil remains totally controversial. I've had clients opt for castor oil with both good and bad experiences. I know there is a lot of chatter these days after a certain birth story went viral about castor oil being a terrible recommendation.
I really don't think it's a "bad recommendation". I think just like any other intervention or medication, it's important to consider the pros and cons and make a decision that is best for you. Will I try castor oil again in this pregnancy? As of right now, I have no plans to try castor oil again unless I'm actually extremely constipated and all else fails What are you thoughts and experiences with Castor Oil for Labor Induction? Do you plan to induce labor with castor oil? Share in the comments below!
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