First off, you have to read a lot about inducing labor with homeopathy. Caulophyllum thalictroides, or blue cohosh, is found in many places to have it all figured out. Inducing labor with homeopathy is something to be careful with because it is still not as well known as other practices.
There are many herbs and formulas used to induce labor and you can overdo it if you use them all. With that said, please do not use supplements that you’ve not studied yet. It is best to research the products you want to try such as Blue Cohosh or Caulophyllum thalictroides risks.
Next, I want to share that I used Caulophyllum thalictroides or Blue Cohosh in homeopathic form for 4 out of 5 of my labors. On the first, it was 20 hours of ridiculously slow, ineffective labor until the end. I swore I would not do that again.
On my second full-term pregnancy, I had not given birth yet and her due date was coming up. I was not overdue but anxious since my first was 17 days early.
By the last week of pregnancy, I was determined to bring it on should the due date arrive without labor. I went to the health food store and asked about natural methods. The woman there insisted I try Caulophyllum thalictroides or Blue Cohosh instead of swallowing 2 oz of castor oil (followed by a shake and a sour lime to remove the taste), or using castor oil packs, nipple stimulation, sex (we had a 22-month-old and so a normal amount of sex was all I could manage at this stage) or cod liver oil, which is often what people take by mistake instead of castor oil.
Of course, I said what any sane person would: “What the heck is Caulophyllum thalictroides?” In my head, I thought, “What is Caulophyllum used for?” The lady told me it was Blue Cohosh.
To that, of course, I asked what that was also. But it was much more understandable knowing the herb that made the homeopathic. It made me think that it’s made with herbal plants.
She told me to take it every 4 hours and when I was in labor to change over to 1 every 20 minutes. At the time, I was wondering, “Is Caulophyllum safe in pregnancy?” But I did exactly what she asked, and my labor came the next morning at 8 am. My lovely Lydia was born at 8:43 a.m.
The labor was amazing. It was so clearly different from my first. It is easy to say as you read this that it was my second, so why wouldn’t it be? But it wasn’t just the length. I could FEEL different contractions.
The thing such as Caulophyllum Thalictroides or Blue Cohosh is that it makes you feel like you are not having small “spazzy” contractions but that they are getting somewhere. That is exactly what is happening. You feel a contraction and release rather than just hanging on. THESE are effective contractions.
I dilated very quickly once the labor was in full bloom and gave only a few pushes to present her to the world. If I have only had that one experience, I might not be convinced. But it was the other 3 times that showed me it was the very thing for me.
With the next child, I was 1 week before my due date and my doctor was concerned about the baby’s weight because she was so small and the other two were so big. He asked if we would be willing to induce so that he could be there and not on his vacation.
He was a wonderful doctor and was concerned for me, not his schedule. We agreed after having an ultrasound.
They brought me in the morning to start the pitocin and I told him that I was going to use the homeopathic remedy to induce labor and could they monitor it. They had started the pitocin but nothing happened so they agreed. (You can’t get that these days.) Caulophyllum Thalictroides 30c to induce labor was given to me.
Within a short time, I started labor and 1 hour and 40 minutes later, she was born. The pitocin had not worked and they could see that. The labor was very fast, not furious but strong contractions after only 6 pellets of 30x – 2 each 10 minutes because of the situation.
Emily was born and the placenta came right along afterwards; quickly. The doctor was surprised at how easily it all happened. My labor was so quick that I almost had her when I was walking around the corner and I had to dash into the bathroom.
I got the push urge and did NOT want to leave the toilet to get back to the bed. Thank God my mother-in-law was there to coax me out. My husband and sister had gone down to get a muffin, thinking there was plenty of time.
Enter, next pregnancy…
I started to take Caulophyllum Thalictroides or Blue Cohosh about 3 weeks before my due date for my last 2 and they were both born 10 days early. One was 45 minutes (placenta abrupt because he had been slightly placenta previa). He was born with 2 knots in his cord and we were so glad he was early.
Having him early may have saved his life because of the cord getting tighter and my contractions were strong enough to have a short labor. My doctor reluctantly agreed.
Our last child, Kathryn, was born 10 days early as well. I had started to take them about 3 weeks before and my husband was going to be away and hard to reach so I doubled up a little during that first week.
My labor was at home, 1 hour and 40 minutes and uneventful except that we lost power and there was an ice storm. It was a Little House on the Prairie kind of birth. Otherwise, the labor was controlled, quick, and very effective.
I never felt anything getting away from me. There wasn’t anything spastic about the contractions. They were firm, hard and went away as they should steadily.
Evening primrose oil can also be taken at the end of pregnancy. I don’t know if both are needed, but at this point, it is not harmful since it is just helping the uterus to strengthen.
The other homeopathic to take is Black Cohosh which is called Cimicifuga. One of these helps with dilating and one with softening. I believe the blue cohosh equivalent is for dilating since I never took the black. A midwife recommended it later on.
What I did with 4 of my children was to start taking them about 3-4 weeks ahead just 1–2 a day for a few days, then I went to 1 pellet each hour for about 8 hours a day. The exact thing is not important but just making sure to have them consistently for part of the day to ease your body into it.
Boiron is the name to look for in the little blue vials. They do not contain the actual herb but are considered the essence of the herb because of how homeopathic are made.
Caulophyllum and Cimicifuga (the homeopathic versions of blue and black cohosh.) in 30c (They come in different strengths.)
Decide what day to start and then be consistent. Below is only a suggestion of use. You may want to check with your midwife for how she recommends taking them.
Day one: Put two Caulophyllum pellets under your tongue and let them dissolve. They are like hard tiny candy. Let the beads fall into the cap and pop into your mouth. It is important not to touch them with your hands. From the cap to your mouth only.
Do this for 8 hours in a row and then stop for the day. You can take the evening primrose oil as well, but that is another subject.
The next day switches to the Cimicifuga and does the same. Now I only did the BC so you are going by a midwife here not my experience.
From what I know of this, it is a good idea to take the Cimicifuga as well to be addressing both parts of labor. If you decide to take only one then take the Caulophyllum pellets for the labor part. Both are better though.
The next day, give it a break or just take the evening primrose oil. You are teaching your body to do it and not just forcing the action.
Repeat the schedule above until you’re in labor. The midwife might tell you that it is not necessary to take the pellets during labor but I found they gave it a little extra push. That is up to you but if taken in the homeopathic form there is no danger.
Start any time from around 37 weeks pregnant onward if you are without any concerns in your pregnancy.
It is effective also if you wait since I have been in both places.
Disclaimer: These are my experiences and the information gathered over time. I have shared this with my infertility workshop support group at yahoogroups.com over the years and it has been very effective for them as well.
Don’t hold me responsible since I am suggesting that you check with your midwife before you start anything. You assume all responsibility to read more and ask questions.
I will say lastly that in infertility circles, a high percentage of women have C-sections because of ineffectual labor and therefore I wanted to bring some food for thought. If you have had trouble with cycles, you may very well have long labors.
Bless you.
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