Question about Black Cohosh and Evening Primrose Oil?

Had a doc apt today and my mid-wife suggested using these to ripen my cervix. I'm currently half way through my 39th week. I asked if these were safe to take for me and baby and she said that they were. Just wondering if any of you ladies have had any experience(good or bad) with these homeopathic remedies? Thanks for answering

Question about Black Cohosh and Evening Primrose Oil?
Am I correct to assume that your midwife suggested the Black Cohosh as a homeopathic preparation and the Evening Primrose Oil is a capsule used as a vaginal suppository?





If so, there shouldn't be any problem. The thing about homeopathic preparations is that your body will only respond to them if it is ready.





As you are already within a safe delivery period of your pregnancy, and you've been advised by your midwife that this is an option, the EPO is most likely a safe option for you.





No intervention or stimulus is 100% safe for all people. You need to trust your instincts and the knowledge of your midwife that these are safe options to progress the pregnancy towards labour.





I have used the Black Cohosh in homeopathic form - alternating with Blue Cohosh. I can't say for sure that it put me into labour, but I had no adverse reaction. Personally, I haven't used EPO to ripen the cervix, but I know women who have - some with more successful outcomes than others - but I know of none who have had unfortunate outcomes.





At the end of the day, the decision is solely yours. Your body and baby know best when to begin labour, most of the interventions to stimulate labour are due to our own impatience to end the discomfort of pregnancy and hold our baby in our arms.





We also need to remember that most pregnancies (barring any known medical conditions or sudden maternal or fetal distress) can last, safely, for 42 weeks. Due dates can sometimes be a guessing game if you weren't 100% sure of your dates!





Interventions like homeopathics and EPO are so mild (compared to what is available in a hospital to stimulate labour) that they only stimulate labour if your body is ready.





Best wishes!
Reply:my daughter took black cohosh before her labor. He labor went fine if a little long. The baby was in Neonatal for a week but it had nothing to do with the black cohosh
Reply:You know I use herbs all the time, but I am cautious and would be more so if I were pregnant. I had written more positive remarks on these herbs until I looked them up. If you take these, ask more questions. If you don't choose to, that's up to you. I know how nervous you feel as term comes and you're waiting and waiting. My babies both took longer than expected. I don't want to undermine your relationship with your mid-wife, though. I am sorry to give you information that indicates these herbs, especially evening primrose oil, may be a bad idea. The third citation below is from the studies listed in the second. Please look through the studies listed.





http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69140.cf...





http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69216.cf...





http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez...





Good luck!
Reply:I know for sure the evening primrose is okto take - I am unsure if it will help with ripening the cervix but it will help with moodiness.





- unsure on the black cohosh.
Reply:I didn't try black cohosh, I've heard that it can bring on dangerous contractions that can't be stopped until it's out of your blood system.


We did try evening primrose, it didn't help at all, I was still three weeks overdue. Sorry.


My guess is that it helps people who are ready to go into labor. If your body isn't ready, it's not going to help.





You could safely go two and a half more weeks, let your body rest, take it easy, and think good thoughts.