I think its timefor another ...Evening Primrose Oil thread :)

[Almacham]

Originally Posted by my*2*angels Please forgive my complete ignorance, but why do you do this? Is it so that you will go into labor? Or to just help prepare you for it? I have never heard of this before!

(I've never done this before... if you take a peek at my siggy, you see I always had trouble keeping mine IN... ) However, several people I know have used this method and had success.

EPO is supposed to work by softening the cervix, basically. It contains a lot of prostaglandins, which ripen the cervix and help prep the body for labor basically. It's not magic, though. It doesn't seem to actually bring on labor from what I hear.

Here are a couple articles I found, to help you understand better:

http://www.essortment.com/naturally-...ose-51100.html

http://pregnancy.families.com/blog/c...ten-the-cervix

[my*2*angels]

Thank you for the info! Both of my babies came right at 38 weeks, so maybe that is why I have never heard of it! I will check out those links!

[Lousli]

I've had trouble keeping mine in as well, with one born at 36 weeks and one at 33. But I'm approaching 36 weeks now, and looking this with interest. I wonder if it would be okay for me to do it if I make it to 38 weeks? I want to go full term, but I'd rather that be around 38 or 39 weeks than 41!

[Almacham]

Originally Posted by my*2*angels Thank you for the info! Both of my babies came right at 38 weeks, so maybe that is why I have never heard of it! I will check out those links!

You're welcome!

Originally Posted by Lousli I've had trouble keeping mine in as well, with one born at 36 weeks and one at 33. But I'm approaching 36 weeks now, and looking this with interest. I wonder if it would be okay for me to do it if I make it to 38 weeks? I want to go full term, but I'd rather that be around 38 or 39 weeks than 41!

I think 38, 39, 40 weeks is a safe zone... My medical team always considered 37 weeks to be "full term", but others consider that time to be 38 weeks. Good luck, and I hope you have an easy delivery!

[nicole3567]

my midwife has had me taking it for mood swings sice 12 weeks, I dont take it regualry because I throw up pills. I didnt know it was for labor

[Lousli]

I'm "bumping" this up there because I'm 36 weeks 3 days now, and my friend brought over some of her left over EPO today. Trying to decide when to start taking it, given my history and my current stats.

My history is one baby at 36 weeks and when i got to the hospital with my water broken I was only a fingertip dilated but almost completely effaced and she was born about 8 hours later. My second one was at 33 weeks but only after a number of complications resulting from a bad stomach flu. When my water finally did break (after 4 days of contractions and other complications) I was still only about 1cm and 50% effaced. She was born 5 hours later.

Currently I am 1-2cm and 70% effaced. So I'm thinking it would be best not to take this at all until I'm at least 37-38 weeks, if I make it that long. But it seems to take a lot of time to be effective, so will it even help at all if I start at 38 weeks?