Many scary questions might appear moms reach 40 weeks of pregnancy. This is the critical time when moms want to search for any possible methods to reduce the pain of their labor. Besides, they will need to know some medications or remedies to shorten the labor period.
One of the ways that they will want to know is castor oil.
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What is castor oil?
Castor oil is produced from the seeds of the castor oil plant. Latin Name of castor bean plant is Ricinus communis. Castor oil has no color but sometimes comes in very pale yellow liquid.
The oil contains fatty acids. Castor oil is a laxative liquid that is available in many drug stores.
What kind of castor oil to induce labor?
Castor oil with liquid laxatives will dehydrate you, but it will give benefits in inducing the labor. The oil is helpful in inducing contractions in the bowels. With proper dosage, it will cause the uterus to start contracting.
How long does castor oil take to induce labor?
There is no scientific evidence that can tell the answer. However, through the forums, some women shared that they start to get the effect after 15 minutes.
The first effects are vomiting and diarrhea. But after some 20 minutes, strong contractions will occur. However, studies found that the average result is that women will go into labor within 24 hours after taking the castor oil.
Is it safe to take castor oil to induce labor?
Castor oil has been used for inducing the labors for years. Castor oil basically induces intestinal cramps. Therefore, it causes some diarrhea and uncomfortable contractions in the bowels.
However, for healthy moms, side effects will not appear. And if taken with the right dosage and procedure, castor oil is helpful and not dangerous.
Take several small doses rather than one big dose, never take more than 1-2 tablespoons in a 24-hour period (from midnight till midnight).
Read about How effective is evening primrose oil to induce labor?
Risks of taking castor oil to induce labor
Based on the FDA database, the Castor oil plant is a poisonous plant of the spurge family. Though some claim that castor oil is safe for inducing labors, some also claim that to use castor might leave dangerous risks for the babies.
In some cases, castor oil might increase the chance of meconium. In addition, castor oil can be harmful if it is aspirated. Besides, it might cause pneumonia if it is inhaled.
In a severe case, the castor oil can also cause developmental delays in the babies.
The best thing to do is to consult about the castor oil with the professionals. It is important to also check whether the pregnancy is ready to labor before taking this oil. We need to make it useful and avoid the risks.
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