[KK_1986]

Hello, I'm not sure if this topic has come up before (didn't find it with the search option) but I was wondering if anyone had tried or know someone that tried the EPO supplement to encourage labor along? If so how effective was it?
I'm not late yet but am anticipating the little guy being stubborn and have been looking into natural ways to induce labor just in case.
Thanks!

[newmommysarah]

I took EPO orally everyday from 36 and a half weeks and guess what - my lil man put in an appearance 13 days early! I was also going for regular walks, bouncing on the birthing ball, eating pineapple and dates for breakfast and drinking raspberry leaf tea - its disgusting but hey it worked for me.

[TuckrLeesMommy]

EPO softens your cervix.
I was using the massage oil every night befor I went to bed as well as drinking red rasperry leaf tea everyday...still no baby. I walk a lot too 2-5 miles a day. And I bounce and roll on my yoga ball non stop as well as stretching my back and hips encouraging them to separate. I have been doing this for since just before I was 36 weeks. And still no baby. I will be induced in 9 days if he doesnt make an appearance soon!
I'm still working on other "natural" induction techniques
I bought a raw pineapple and ate it all in about 45 minutes and it landed me in the hospital the next day with severe cramps that never went anywhere so there might be some truth to that one.
I haven't been desperate enough to try castor oil but my midwife gave me a recipe something along the lines of 2 parts orange juice 1 part castor oil drink over a certain period of time while eatin peanut butter toast. She uses it on women all the time and it always works. I'm just not that desperate for those bathroom runs and nasty taste. MAYBE if he isn't here a day and a half before my induction I MIGHT consider it...maybe...i havent decided yet.
Evening primrose oil hasnt done anything for me yet! And I've been using it for awhile...
Maybe you will have better luck!!!

[KK_1986]

Yep, from what i have read elsewhere it works for some and not for others. So essentially its like every other natural remedy out there to induce labor!
I mentioned to the fiance i was going to start taking it and he got a bit nervous about it, but from what i've seen there aren't any serious complications this late in pregnancy so i think i am going to go head and start the oral supplements.
I hadn't ready about pineapple before you two mentioned it though so may have to go to the grocery store as well!
So not interested in taking the castor oil either, at this point the side effects appear to outweigh the possible benefits.
Thanks for the advice/ input!
(And hope the babe decides to make an appearance before you have to be induced.)

[TuckrLeesMommy]

yea they claim that you have to eat like 8 fresh pineapples to get any effect, which like i said 1 sent me to L&D for 7 hours with cramps that just kinda ended cause my body wasnt ready. i am thinking about grabbing like 3 this time now that i am way farther along.
(NOTE: i didnt intentionally try and induce labor, i was just really craving fresh pineapple)
i ate that one in about 45 mins.
im gonna buy 3 and eat as much as i can in as little of a time as possible. at least unitl my mouth can no longer stand the acidic burns!

give it a try tho!
it did something for me!

[Mod-Lady Valkyrie]

I've been using EPO for perineal massage since 37 weeks. I am now 41 weeks 1 day according to my dating scan or 40 weeks 4 days according to my LMP (overdue, either way). However I did have an internal on Monday when I had a sweep and I was completely effaced. The EPO is supposed to be for softening the cervix, so in a sense, I suppose you could say it has done its job - just waiting now to dilate more than 1-2cm and get some regular contractions going.

I'm also drinking RRL tea twice a day, taking lots of walks (up and down as many flights of stairs as I could this last 2 days!!), sitting/bouncing on a gym ball, and doing a lot of nipple stimulation!

[ufmelissa824]

I took EPO twice a day from 36w on and by 39w I was 80% effaced and 2cm dilated. I was induced a few days before my due date and all it took was a few hours on Cervidil and I went into very quick labor in which I dilated from 2 to 10cm in 3 hours. I don't know if it was all the EPO but I certainly think it helped my cervix progress when I needed it to.