Re: induction at 38 weeks

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Hi Robin,

I had my membranes stripped in my last pregnancy, I think around 38 weeks or so (??). It didn't tip me into labor. It MAY have helped to soften the cervix, although I was also using several other methods of cervix ripening, and there's no "proof" that any one - or the combo of all - of these methods helped. If I remember clearly, this is what I did:

>From 37 weeks - Evening Primrose Oil, 500 mg, 3x/day (taken orally)

>From 37 weeks - PN6, one capsule 3x/day (each cap is 425 mg) (Mine is
made by Nature's Way and contains: Squaw Vine, Red Raspberry leaves, Blessed Thistle herb, Black Cohosh root, Pennyroyal herb, and False Unicorn root.)

At 38 weeks - Homeopathic pellets (all at 200c dosage): Cimicifuga (aka. Black Cohosh): 3-5 pellets on Monday Caulophyllum (aka.Blue Cohosh): 3-5 pellets on Wednesday Arnica: 3-5 pellets on Friday

I think I also did some mild nipple stimulation (I hated it) and we did have intercourse (which can be the best ripener of all, since semen contains prostaglandins and female orgasm can release prostaglandins, too, I think ?).

The techniques I used were only meant as cervix RIPENERS and not as INDUCTION techniques. I never experienced any cramping or contractions with any of these methods (although many women do, especially in higher dosages). My midwife said that there were ways to increase these dosages as well as do some other things in a short period of time to actually induce labor, but we never went that route. We ended up doing two prostaglandin gels when I was 39 weeks, which started labor (never went to Pit or AROM). However, my cervix was also a good 3cm and very soft going in for the prostaglandins, so I still think all the ripening stuff we did helped.

I'm curious, too - why can you not use prostagladin gels? Have you discussed the possibility of Cytotec or Cervadil instead? (There was a recent interesting discussion of some of these things just in the last couple of weeks on this forum.)

There's my two cents....

--
Noelle Haland
Mama to Ethan (stillborn 12/2/96), Max (born 10/28/97)...
...and Ellie due 4th of July 1999 (a girl!)
<noelleh@earthlink.net>

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