I am 39.5 weeks pregnant and under recommendation of my midwife took a couple Tbsp of Caster Oil yesterday. I took it around 5pm and nothing happened. I woke up at midnight with contractions (so they were strong enough to wake me) and wasn't able to fall back asleep. Right off the bat they were pretty close together, roughly 5 to 10 minutes and lasting anywhere from 30 to 60 seconds.
These contractions continued until 10am this morning, and then just stopped. I still feel really crampy and nauseous, but no more contractions. They were regular, but they weren 't too painful. Enough that I couldn't continue sleeping, but I could still talk through them.

I am confused now. Does this mean I am close to going into full labor? Or is this just some mean trick my body is playing on me. I am aware that I started it with the Caster Oil, but the contractions wouldn't have continued on for 10 hours just because of that, would they?

Has anyone experienced the same thing? I am hoping on some good answers, I'm ready to get this pregnancy over with. And the last thing I want is to be medically induced.

Hi ladybug,

Has a medical induction been discussed for some reason? Is that why you are trying to get things started on your own?
It could be a lull in the contractions or they could just stop altogether. As with any sort of means to get things going, your body has to be ready for labor to start or it will fizzle out. Even a medical induction will not go smoothly if your body is not ready.
Your midwife may suggest to try the castor oil again, but keep in mind that you may just experience the same reaction... contractions, cramping, and nausea with nothing to show for your discomfort. There are other means to try and get things going as well that are a bit less invasive, but generally are not recommended unless you are being presented with a medical induction.

I am aware of the other forms of inductions, my midwife gave me a full list.. And I have also tried them. So far I have had no success with any of the others, and the most with Caster Oil. Power walking has helped the baby get engaged and move farther down, but other than increased pelvic pressure... nothing.

The reason why we have discussed medical induction is due to my husband leaving for overseas end of next week. He will be gone for 6 months and wouldn't be able to meet the baby otherwise until after. So I would be medically induced next Wednesday if the baby doesn't come more naturally before that.

I've tried:
Red Raspberry leaf tea
Nipple stimulation
Power Walking
Bouncing on birth ball
Pressure points on feet
Lots of sex
Scrubbing floors
Gardening on all fours
Dancing
And lastly caster oil.

Is there anything else anyone can recommend??

Pressure points on "spleen 6" (about 4 finger widths up from your ankle bone on the inside of your leg and slightly towards the back) and "hoku"(in the web area between your thumb and forefinger) sometimes help... although tend to be better once labor has already started. If someone does it for you, that often works better too. Both require some steady, firm pressure, it should be a bit uncomfortable.

Nipple stimulation can take a bit of time, and can be both sides at the same time. IF contractions begin from this, they should not come on too strongly or last longer than a minute.

You may ask your midwife about having a membrane sweep. She would do a sweep of the amniotic sac from the cervix in an effort to produce a release of prosteglandins. If it is going to work it usually will do so within a couple of days. Some women will have it repeated.

Again, nothing is going to work if your body isn't ready for it. Has she done an exam to see what sort of changes may have occurred already with your cervix? Did she say if it was "favorable" or not? If changes have started, then even if you did end up with a medical induction, the changes will hopefully allow things to progress similar to as if you had gone on your own.

Fingers crossed for you... hope things get going soon!

I heard about those other pressure points as well, and tried them myself... just didn't have the patience I suppose to sit there for a longer period. I've used my breast pump for nipple stimulation, but it's a manual pump, and I hear it has to be close to what the baby would be doing right?

I haven't been back for another appointment with my midwife. Tomorrow is the first day I go back since I last seen her last week when she suggested the Caster Oil. She said she might do a membrane sweep and warned me of the discomfort. I do not know if I am dialated or not, or how effaced I am or not. I haven't had an internal exam done yet, tomorrow is my first. So fingers crossed that I'll hear good news.