inducing labour naturally: castor oil and dates

Castor oil
(Latin:Oleum Palma Christi) is made from the seeds of the castor bean plant. It has been used to stimulate labor all the way back to ancient Egyptian times. Studies show that Castor oil is an effective way to induce labour, and most people who consume one dose of 60 mL will go into labour within the next 24 hours. It seems to be most effective for those who have given birth vaginally before.

Inducing labour naturally may be a good option for you if this is your first rodeo and you're at or past your due date, but is especially effective if you’ve had a prior vaginal birth.

All good quality studies found no differences in rates of Caesarean, use of forceps, episiotomy, rates of hemorrhage, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, NICU admissions, maternal death, stillbirth, or uterine rupture. This means castor oil is both safe and effective for people who have not had a prior Caesarean or prior uterine surgery. In people who have had a prior C Section or prior uterine surgery, there is not enough data to say that castor oil would be safe.

Side effects:
-nausea is very common
-loose stools or increase in the number of bowel movements, in a small percentage of people

DATES
Dates contain a high percentage of carbohydrates, B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, 15 types of salts and minerals, proteins, vitamins, and healthy fats. This makes for a fantastic source of nutrition during pregnancy, but especially during the marathon of labour where we need to keep our strength up. Some research suggests that dates help produce oxytocin, helping you to have more effective uterine contractions.

Keep in mind, dates are high in sugar, so it is usually recommended that pregnant women with gestational diabetes or diabetes should avoid this fruit.

Side effects:
Rare. Eating too many may cause digestive upset, change in bowel habits, or allergy.

Studies show that people who eat dates during pregnancy have:
-shorter length of the early phase of labor
-reduced risk of postpartum bleeding
-reduced risk of needing to be induced or have augmentation
-reduced risk of needing vacuum-assisted deliveries
-reduced risk of ruptured membranes before admission
-higher Bishop score on admission to the hospital (meaning their cervix is more ripe, meaning labour is ready to happen)
-reduced risk of prolonged first and second stages of labor

Research shows that eating 70grams of dates (about 3 or 4 large medjool dates) per day, starting no later than 36 weeks gestation, preferably sooner, can help you reap the benefits.

This information is not intended to be used as medical advice. Many studies on pregnant people are not done on higher risk pregnancies, and usually apply only to lower risk pregnancies. You should always discuss any interventions with your healthcare provider.