Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of using fenugreek to induce labor. Are you possibly confusing it with castor oil? I have heard of women using it, to various degrees of success.

I'd be leery of using castor oil--it's a laxative, so it can dehydrate you, which isn't all that healthy heading into labor.

I've never heard of using fenugreek to induce labor. Are you possibly confusing it with castor oil? I have heard of women using it, to various degrees of success.

Anonymous wrote:It is completely irrational to fixate on "natural" methods of induction. There is no evidence that fenugreek or cohash or whatever are safer than medical induction, and you have no idea what is actually in the supplements you are buying because they are not subject to the same regulatory controls as pharmaceuticals. Not because they are inherently safer, but because the vitamin lobby convinced lawmakers to be soft on them.

Especially if you are high risk, you need to listen to what your doctor says, not take some untested and potentially dangerous herb.

This. Hippie or no, I'd trust something regulated by the FDA and prescribed by my doctor over some pill that could be anything. And if your need to deliver soon is life-or-death, FFS, have a medically supervised induction, rather than dosing yourself with who knows what on your own.

That said, I've never known anyone to successfully use fengreek to induce labor. You could try acupuncture--dunno if it really works, but the risk of side effects is pretty low.

Anonymous wrote:I too am trying to find out more about natural ways to induce and if fenugreek may work, how much USUALLY is the right amount.
In NORMAL pregnancies I would say to absolutely let nature and God take it's course. But I never have had a NORMAL pregnancy. And this one now has so many complications for me that it's better for baby to come early. Even my doc says this. But I would rather take something natural than take medications that have side effects in the long run.
Since I would rather be alive and around to watch my kids grow up it am hunting desperately for options that can help move things along naturally. I am a bit of a hippie in that. All of the boards I have read though are more so filled with people explaining what full term is and why waiting it out is better. But there are women who have health risk and life risk factors that do need helpful answers. Reading through pages and pages of "why not to" is exhausting.

Jesus OP, if there is a health risk here to you and YOUR BABY, you should be seeking medical advice, not self-dosing yourself with fenugreek based on what you read on the Internet. What is safe is a medically supervised induction in a hospital.

It is completely irrational to fixate on "natural" methods of induction. There is no evidence that fenugreek or cohash or whatever are safer than medical induction, and you have no idea what is actually in the supplements you are buying because they are not subject to the same regulatory controls as pharmaceuticals. Not because they are inherently safer, but because the vitamin lobby convinced lawmakers to be soft on them.

Especially if you are high risk, you need to listen to what your doctor says, not take some untested and potentially dangerous herb.

Agree that fenugreek doesn't sound like a good option, especially in a pregnancy that is being described as complicated. If your pregnancy is complicated enough that baby needs to come before 42 weeks, it's probably not a good idea to be messing around with herbs where the safety profile is sketchy. Did your doctor recommend this?

OP, I've got no issue with using natural methods to help labor along, but fenugreek would not be my first choice, because everything I've read suggests both the safety and efficacy are sketchy.

Have you tried black cohosh and primrose oil, taken with raspberry leaf tea? Nipple stimulation? Sex? Lots and lots of walking? Acupuncture?

There are a lot of natural ways to try to jump start labor that I'd recommend trying before fenugreek.

I too am trying to find out more about natural ways to induce and if fenugreek may work, how much USUALLY is the right amount.
In NORMAL pregnancies I would say to absolutely let nature and God take it's course. But I never have had a NORMAL pregnancy. And this one now has so many complications for me that it's better for baby to come early. Even my doc says this. But I would rather take something natural than take medications that have side effects in the long run.
Since I would rather be alive and around to watch my kids grow up it am hunting desperately for options that can help move things along naturally. I am a bit of a hippie in that. All of the boards I have read though are more so filled with people explaining what full term is and why waiting it out is better. But there are women who have health risk and life risk factors that do need helpful answers. Reading through pages and pages of "why not to" is exhausting.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-733-FENUGREEK.aspx?activeIngredientId=733&activeIngredientName=FENUGREEK

Fenugreek is LIKELY SAFE for people when taken by mouth in amounts normally found in foods. It is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken in amounts used for medicinal purposes (amounts larger than normally found in food). Side effects include diarrhea, stomach upset, bloating, gas, and a “maple syrup” odor in urine. Fenugreek can cause nasal congestion, coughing, wheezing, facial swelling, and severe allergic reactions in hypersensitive people. Fenugreek might lower blood sugar.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Fenugreek is LIKELY UNSAFE in pregnancy when used in amounts greater than those in food. It might cause early contractions. Taking fenugreek just before delivery may cause the newborn to have an unusual body odor, which could be confused with “maple syrup disease.” It does not appear to cause long-term effects.

Although fenugreek is used to stimulate the production of breast milk, not enough is known about the safety of fenugreek during breast-feeding. It’s best not to use fenugreek is you are breast-feeding.

Children: Fenugreek might be UNSAFE for children. Some reports have linked fenugreek tea to loss of consciousness in children. An unusual body odor resembling maple syrup may occur in children drinking fenugreek tea.

Diabetes: Fenugreek can affect blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Watch for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use fenugreek.

If it's offensive to say that average onset of labor for a first time mom is 41+1 day...I'm sorry. But the reality is that labor is safest when mom and baby are ready.

If your body is ready, evening primrose oil, red raspberry leaf tea and sex can help soften the cervix and strengthen the uterus to help thing's along.

PP, thanks for advise but I have of course spoken to my doctor and although you situation may be okay to last 42 weeks mine is not! I would prefer anything other than medical induction as long as it is safe. And I have spoke to my doctor regarding safety instead of relying on strangers for that part of the decision making process. I was asking if anyone had tried Fenugreek for induction, not for you medical advise as to when or how I should move my pregnancy along. Just find your post to be a bit offensive.

I wouldn't take anything without first speaking to your OB or midwife. Also, it's very normal to still be pregnant up to 42 weeks, so while I can understand that it is hard to wait, it doesn't seem like there's any urgent need for your baby to be born. Even "natural" induction techniques are still unnatural in the sense that your body may not be ready for labor. I think often patience is the best method of getting a baby to be born, though it's the hardest.

From what I have read, the results can be nil or you could just get a nasty case of the runs if you ingest too much as the dosing is unpredictable.

I've never heard of this. Have sex every day and go for walks, despite the weather. Good luck!

My due date is in 4 days and i'm desperate to get this party started if you know what I mean. Has anyone tried Fenugreek to help induce labor? I know that it is used for milk supply after delivery, but I'm wondering if anyone has actually tried it for labor and was it helpful.

Thanks!