If you’re pregnant and past your due date, you might wonder if exercising will help induce labor. All rights reserved. This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Evening primrose oil is an oil derived from the seeds of the evening primrose plant. Postpartum bleeding problems. While there is no standard dosage, its standard to take 500 to 2000 milligrams daily after the 38th week of pregnancy has begun. There are other methods commonly used to help women naturally induce labor. There are no known negative effects on breast-feeding. Historically considered a medicinal “cure-all”, evening primrose oil is one of the more popular herbal supplements for female hormonal balance and fertility. I had preterm labor and other issues. Evening primrose oil during pregnancy is safe or not. J Nurse Midwifery 1999;44:320-4. Evening primrose oil (EPO) has long been used as an alternative treatment for PMS, hot flashes, endometriosis and other female-specific problems. But what exactly is evening primrose oil, does it actually work — and are there any potential risks of using it while you're pregnant? Either evening primrose oil is rubbed on the female’s cervix, or it is taken internally, or it is used as a vaginal suppository. The capsules are often taken in conjunction with other natural induction methods, including consumption of red raspberry leaf tea, nipple stimulation, and sexual intercourse. Regardless, you shouldn’t take any supplement during pregnancy without consulting with your care provider. Some midwives may use it to ripen the cervix during the 3 rd trimester of pregnancy, in order to make it ready for delivery. While evening primrose oil does have some good health benefits attached with its use, there are certain facts that cannot be neglected. I had my baby early (37 weeks) but that was expected! It is generally recommended to take two 500mg capsules a day until 38 weeks. As far as its effectiveness, there aren’t enough formal studies on EPO to prove its impact on labor or cervical ripening. Taking evening primrose oil during pregnancy is tied to a longer active phase of labor, as well as an increased need for the use of Pitocin or vacuum extraction. Hi. Probably not, according to the latest findings. Evening primrose oil comes in capsules, which can be taken orally or inserted vaginally. Reducing gestational diabetes symptoms. It may reduce the need to medically induce labor. While there is no standard dosage, it’s standard to take 500 to 2000 milligrams daily after the 38th week of pregnancy has begun. Here’s the truth. By 38 weeks of pregnancy, she may increase the dosage to four capsules. Many women struggle with the correct dosage of evening primrose oil during pregnancy. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of evening primrose oil (EvPO) on the duration of pregnancy and labour. It can come with side effects like headaches or gastrointestinal upset. In fact, some research has shown that taking evening primrose oil during pregnancy is tied to a longer, slower labor. Here’s everything you need to know about this herbal supplement, its uses, and precautions. Pregnant women like using evening primrose oil because it’s widely available and reasonably priced. (2006). From Evening Primrose Oil to Pre-Seed Fertility, Cervical Mucus, and EPO. US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Medline Plus. Vitamin D and Evening Primrose Oil Administration Improve Glycemia and Lipid Profiles in Women with Gestational Diabetes, The truth about “natural” ways to induce labor, Evening Primrose Oil for Cervical Ripening. One small study found that taking evening primrose oil plus vitamin D during pregnancy helped reduce symptoms of gestational diabetes. He or she can help you weigh the pros and cons to determine whether the supplement is a good option for you. Still, you might be wondering if it’s right for you. Evening primrose oil is also rich in gamma linolenic acid. What is Evening Primrose Oil’s dosage for labor induction? Newborns of mothers who take evening primrose oil in the week before giving birth are at higher risk for bleeding into the skin or bruising. Reported side effects include delivery complications and newborn bruising. If you choose to use EPO, always start with very low doses. Some of them recommend evening primrose oil during pregnancy to induce labour in a natural way. The most common side effects are temporary gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, fullness, or nausea. There are indeed a number of things you can do to prime your body for the task ahead. Pregnancy. Evening primrose oil is a plant extract that has been used for centuries as a complementary medicine. But if you have gestational diabetes, you shouldn’t take the supplement without getting approval from your doctor first. Ty-Torredes, K. A. Planning Visitors During Hospital Stay. Evening primrose oil (EPO) is a favorite fertility aid for women. Your practitioner will also give you the green light on when it’s okay to try to induce labor at home. These are the best iPhone and Android apps to find information, answers, tools, and tracking during your pregnancy. National Institutes of Health, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. The oil, which is considered an herbal supplement, is usually sold in capsules. Many women use EPO without incident, but an early study found that the oral intake of EPO could trigger delivery problems or complications. Am Fam Physician, 80(12), 1405-1408. Evening primrose oil is a popular natural option for inducing labor, and some women and practitioners swear by it. Most of the positive experiences of evening primrose oil are anecdotal. The capsules can be taken orally, but some women insert them directly into their vaginas. Here are some potential risks of evening primrose oil that are likely to arise if it is used during pregnancy. If you’re beyond 40 weeks in your pregnancy, you may have heard of several natural ways to try and induce labor. Health information on this site is based on peer-reviewed medical journals and highly respected health organizations and institutions including ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), as well as the What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, How Nipple Stimulation Works to Induce Labor, Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT, Inducing Labor Safely: How to Get Your Water to Break. Although this oil is known to induce labour, if taken in the last week of pregnancy in high doses, it can cause a condition called “arrest of decent”. Evening primrose oil, or EPO, has long been connected with pregnancy, both as an aid in helping women become pregnant and as a way to induce labor and make childbirth more comfortable. From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. Evening primrose oil is generally well tolerated. Is Evening Primrose Oil Safe During Pregnancy? Does evening primrose oil help start labor? © 2020 Everyday Health, Inc. The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff. If you choose to use EPO, always start with very low doses. Get a…. 10 Benefits of Evening Primrose Oil and How to Use It Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — Written by … Is it safe to use evening primrose oil to induce labor? It contains linolenic acid, gamma linolenic acid, and vitamin E. Over-the-counter EPO capsules can be purchased at most pharmacies or vitamin and herbal remedy stores. Any others planning on using evening primrose oil or have used it? Evening primrose oil comes in capsules, which can be taken orally or inserted vaginally. Evening primrose oil may help to mitigate many of the early discomforts and complications associated with pregnancy. The most common time of termination of pregnancy is the mid-trimester which has two-thirds of all serious abortion-related complications. Evening Primrose Oil Pregnancy. This is due to linolenic acid found in EPO, which may trigger a prostaglandin response in the body. Learn whether taking evening primrose oil to start contractions is a safe, effective way to bring on labor. Newborn bleeding problems. While there may be advantages to using EPO, there are some cons that must be considered. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Plant Database. Do not try to induce labor before 40 weeks of pregnancy. Please whitelist our site to get all the best deals and offers from our partners. During pregnancy, however, you may prefer to get essential fatty acids from foods such as seeds and oily fish, rather than from an evening primrose oil supplement. US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health. Women from all around the world say that it may help induce labor and prevent high blood pressure during pregnancy . Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) is a favorite fertility aid among women. Often used as a health remedy, women have long taken it to relieve breast pain, PMS and menopause symptoms, as well as to induce labor. Termination of pregnancy is an important subject that has complex and emotional controversies. Evening primrose oil dosage to induce labor Starting at 35 weeks take 1 capsule (500 mg) of evening primrose oil orally. J Nurse Midwifery, 44(3), 320-324. reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts. Before giving it a try, though, it’s important to get the facts. Evening primrose oil is a less invasive method of triggering labor, so it can be used earlier in the pregnancy than some other methods. Every woman should approach this with care, because now she is responsible for the new life. US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. Here’s what you should know. Evening Primrose Oil is the oil that is obtained from the North American wildflower Evening Primrose. I do feel like it helped to soften my cervix! Evening primrose oil can have a blood-thinning effect, which could make it harder for blood to clot. Here’s how to safely induce labor. With so much information packed onto every product label, it can be tricky to know where to start when looking to add a supplement to your diet. Find advice, support, and good company (and some stuff just for fun). I only used the oil for a few days before delivering. There isn’t much scientific evidence to prove that taking evening primrose oil to induce labor is either safe or unsafe. One possible option is evening primrose oil (EPO), which can be applied vaginally for the purpose of inducing labor. There is a chance that EPO could trigger complications or trouble with delivery. That could increase the risk for postpartum hemorrhage, especially among women with pregnancy conditions like placenta previa. Evening primrose oil can have a blood-thinning effect, which could make it harder for blood to clot. Starting around 37 weeks insert 1 capsule (500 mg) vaginally every evening before going to bed. It could be that women who take evening primrose oil and begin to have contractions shortly afterwards were very close to going into labor anyway. Evening primrose oil must be used for several weeks for optimal effectiveness and, in most cases, it will not work quickly. Typically, if a woman is using evening primrose oil during pregnancy, she will start with two capsules each day at 36 weeks. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. Why do pregnant women take evening primrose oil supplements? At that time usage can be increased to 3-4 capsules per day. © 2005-2020 Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company. Since studies are lacking in this area, it’s best to avoid anything that might promote labor before your baby is fully mature. Some women start to increase the daily dosage to 2 capsules (1000 mg in total) at 36-37 weeks, and to 3 capsules (1500 mg in total) starting at week 38. As soon as 34 weeks, evening primrose oil can be taken orally. 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