A lot of women think about using Castor oil to induce labor. These women are past their due date and usually looking for a natural alternative to medical induction. If I was past my due date and my doctor gave me permission to use natural means to try to get my labor started, I would try a natural approach as well. However, I would not use Castor oil to induce my labor.
Lot’s of women have tried this method of natural labor induction and many swear that it worked for them. I have no doubts that it might have worked for some of these women. It can actually help one to go into labor although it isn’t proven. However, it doesn’t work as good as many claim it does. Quite a few women claim that it worked for them but just as many say that it didn’t work for them.
This is only one reason that I wouldn’t recommend taking Castor oil to induce labor. The main reason is because of the side effects that it may cause and the possible risks it carries. If I am in my last stages of pregnancy and overdue, I will most likely already be in a lot of discomfort and pain. If you add nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea to that, it would only make matters worse. These are some of the side effects of taking Castor oil.
Castor oil can also cause fetal distress, dehydration, and meconium in the baby. These are other effects that health practitioners take into consideration and is why they don’t recommend it. Just think about it. Would you try taking Castor oil to induce labor if there was a good chance of developing these side effects and not even going into labor? There are far better natural ways to induce labor that are highly effective, safe, and carry no side effects or risks.
