Herbals/homeopathics to ripen cervix - my regimen

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I was aksed to send on any information I could get from my midwives regarding herbal and/or homeopathic ways to ripen the cervix near, at or beyond term. Here's what one of the certified nurse midwives in my practice has advised me to do. I trust her because she has used these methods with many patients over the years and she's very familiar with them.

DISCLAIMER: Please do not take this as my "advice" and please check with your own practitioner(s) before using any of these methods. I know, I know - that's common sense, but I figured I'd say it anyway :)

Here are the methods the midwife has suggested for me to ripen my cervix in preparation for labor so I don't go overdue (I'm 37 weeks 2 days). She said that these are NOT INDUCTION TECHNIQUES. She also said that if the time comes to talk induction that she would be glad to advise me on how to use these remedies in the correct dosages and frequency as induction techniques or to encourage along a stalled labor. Hopefully I won't have to think of that :)

WEEKS 37 AND 38: 1) Evening Primrose Oil, 500 mg, 3x/day (taken orally)

2) 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.)

3) 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

(Note on these homeopathics: No food or drink 10 minutes before or after taking the pellets (under the tongue without touching the pellets). Also avoid mint and caffeine, as they are natural "antidotes".)

4) Nipple stimulation: Once or twice a day in the shower (not necessary to be in shower, just for better lubrication & additional stimulus of the shower stream) -- Stimulate one nipple with your fingers and the shower stream just until you have a contraction, then stop until the contraction goes completely away. Then repeat on the other side. You can repeat this once or twice more, but never continue for more than 10 to 20 minutes at a time. REMEMBER -- this is to ripen the cerivx, NOT initiate labor.

5) Lots of sexual intercourse (she couldn't recommend this one enough) -- You benefit from the man's ejaculation AND the woman's orgasm. You can also put some Evening Primrose Oil (just prick the capsule, it's like Vitamin E) on the tip of the man's penis prior to intercourse -- that will get the E.P.O. to your cervix directly. (She told me that sometimes when a woman is due or overdue, she will put a little E.P.O. on her gloved finger when she does a vaginal exam for the same purpose.)

6) Spicy food - she said it really can help!

AT 39 WEEKS AND BEYOND: 1) Double the dosage of Evening Primrose Oil and PN6 on the same schedule. 2) Increase homeopathic pellets as such: Cimicifuga: 3-5 pellets, 4x/day on Monday Caulophyllum: 3-5 pellets, 4x/day on Wednesday Arnica: 3-5 pellets, 4x/day on Friday 3) Continue other methods mentioned above. 4) Perhaps "stripping the membranes" by the midwife during a vag exam.

The midwife did say that it's common sense to be paying attention to your baby (have movements changed or diminished? etc) as well as any contractions you may have just as you would anyway at this point. And of course, if there is anything else out of the ordinary, talk to your practitioner immediately.

So this is my "regimen". The midwife did tell me that just as different women respond at varying levels to prostaglandin gels and Pitocin, different women repsond differently to any or all of these methods. Hopefully I won't need to resort to a prostaglandin/Pit induction, or if anything maybe just need the prostaglandin gels to jump start me into labor. I hope I don't need Pit, that's all I can say. Wish me luck!

--
Noelle
Mom to Ethan (stillborn 12/2/96) and Max (due 11/4/97)

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