Unlocking the Secrets of the Midwives' Brew: A Guide to Its Ingredients, Benefits, and Risks

Dear Mama-to-be, if you're reading this, you're probably eagerly anticipating the arrival of your little one. Having tried various methods like spicy foods, sex, and membrane sweeps without success, you might be feeling a bit frustrated. Fear not! I've got a magical recipe that many expecting moms, myself included, have found helpful in initiating labor.

Ingredients

• Castor oil - 2 Tbsp

• Lemon verbena tea - 8 oz

• Almond butter - 2 Tbsp

• Apricot juice - 10 oz

Directions

1. Boil water and brew your tea.

Pro tip: use 2 tea bags and allow to brew for at least 10 min for a strong infusion.

2. Combine all 4 ingredients in a blender and blend.

3. Pour into glass.

4. Set a timer for 10 min. On an empty stomach finish the entire drink before the timer goes off.

5. Bottoms up!

Warning:

It's nasty. Consider pouring it over ice and using a tasty juice as a chaser. Plug your nose, and drink it as quickly as you can stomach.

Don't consume the midwives brew until you have:

A. gotten approval from your OB

B. you are at least 39 weeks pregnant.

Quotes from scholarly journals

1. "Oral administration of castor oil is effective for cervical ripening and labor induction. Midwives should closely monitor pregnant women with prolonged labor and collaborate with obstetricians to employ castor oil as a safe intervention to induce cervical ripening and labor to prevent undue cesarean surgery" (Moradi, M., Niazi, A., Mazloumi, E., & Lopez, V., 2022).

2. "Castor oil is effective for labor induction, in post-date multiparous women in outpatient settings" (Gilad, R., Hochner, H., Savitsky, B., Porat, S., & Hochner-Celnikier, D.).

3. "Nearly 91% of women in the study who consumed the castor oil cocktail to induce labor were able to give birth vaginally with little to no maternal or fetal complications" (DeMaria, A. L., Sundstrom, B., Moxley, G. E., Banks, K., Bishop, A., & Rathbun, L., 2018).

4. "The probability of labor initiation increases during the first 24 hours after using castor oil. It is associated with a shorter time of birth when compared to women who had not used castor oil" (Lamadah, S. M., Mohamed, H. A. E. A., & El-Khedr, S. M., 2014)

Is it Safe to Try the Midwives Brew?

When considering the safety of the Midwives Brew, it's important to be aware of potential risks associated with its key ingredient, castor oil.

Dehydration Risks:

The primary concern revolves around dehydration. Castor oil, known for its laxative properties, can induce diarrhea. Coupled with the risk of vomiting, this dual effect may lead to dehydration, potentially causing false labor. So make sure you drink enough both before and after consumption.

Meconium-Stained Amniotic Fluid:

Another noteworthy risk involves meconium-stained amniotic fluid, where the baby's initial stool enters the amniotic fluid, posing an infection risk. A study (Lamadah et al., 2014) suggests an increased likelihood of this occurrence, with additional side effects such as fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The newborn's APGAR score at the first minute can also be affected.

Balancing Risks and Benefits:

While the overall risks of the Midwives Brew are generally low, it's crucial to weigh them against the potential benefits. Getting the green light from your care team is important when deciding if the brew is right for you and your family.

How the Midwives Brew Works:

Delving into the mechanics, two main theories shed light on the brew's labor-inducing effects.

1. GI Distress Theory:

The first theory says that castor oil induces gastrointestinal distress, similar to its role as a laxative. However, when combined with almond butter, the oil adheres to the intestines, reducing the laxative effect. This, in turn, initiates contractions, potentially kickstarting the labor process.

2. Prostaglandin Synthesis:

The second theory explores the role of castor oil in prostaglandin synthesis, a crucial factor in labor initiation. Prostaglandins are chemicals integral to the labor process. These are the chemicals released during membrane stripping or triggered by certain foods such as pineapple and hot peppers when we are trying to naturally induce labor. A study on rats (Lamadah et al., 2014) observed significantly higher prostaglandin levels in the placenta and amniotic cells after castor oil administration, suggesting castor oil as a potential mechanism for labor induction.

*This is not medical advice. Remember, every pregnancy is unique. Before diving into any new routine or diet, chat with your healthcare provider. Here's to a smooth and joyful labor experience—good luck, mama!

Morgans experience with the midwives brew

At 39 weeks and 6 days pregnant, the discomfort was all-consuming. My sciatic nerve sent shockwaves from my back down to my toes, and the eagerness to reclaim my body and meet my sweet baby had reached its peak. With a scheduled induction at 40 weeks and a day and stories of hospital inductions prompting more interventions, I was determined to kick start labor in the tranquility of my home.

I had already undergone one unsuccessful membrane sweep and had another one performed on this day. Not feeling too hopeful that the membrane sweep would do the job, I asked my doctor if it was okay to try the midwives brew. She assured me it was perfectly fine and gave me the green light. After my doctor's appointment, my partner and I went on the hunt to find all the ingredients for the midwives' brew.

The easiest ingredient to find was almond butter. Next, we headed to the tea aisle. It was challenging to find pure lemon verbena tea, so I opted for a lemon tea blend with lemon verbena in it. The apricot juice was a bit hard to find as well. If you can't find apricot juice, feel free to substitute it with pineapple juice. Finally, the castor oil.

The search for castor oil proved a test of patience, with five futile attempts across different stores. Discouragement set in, and I suggested giving up. "Let's try just one more store" my partner proposed. Miraculously, Walgreens drugstore held the sought-after castor oil. A lesson learned – for future reference, Amazon would be the go-to for castor oil.

I had not eaten much that day in hopes that my doctor would approve of the midwives' brew, so I was hungry. I wanted to make the cocktail and drink it as fast as I could so that I could have something to eat. My partner started cooking some vegan burgers, and I began brewing my tea. After about 10 minutes, I added my strongly brewed lemon tea into the blender along with most of the can of apricot juice, the castor oil, and the almond butter. Once it was thoroughly blended, I grabbed a glass, poured over the brew. I convinced my partner to take the first drink. It's only fair, right? He assured me, "It's not that bad." So I set my timer for 10 minutes and took my first sip.

Contrary to his assurance, it was indeed that bad. I sought refuge in the fridge, grabbing juice to wash down the unpalatable taste. Lesson two learned – chilling the brew beforehand is a must. Deep breaths kept the urge to throw up at bay, and with the timer as my motivator, I persevered.

The burgers were ready, but I had lost my appetite. I still felt like there was a chance that the cocktail was going to come back up. I excused myself to take a bath. That's when the contractions started. It truly worked that fast. At 5 pm, 30 minutes after I ingested the drink, my body started contracting.

Nervous about the potential for false labor from both the membrane sweep and midwives' brew, I remained in constant motion – walks, bouncing on a yoga ball, and beneficial stretches for birth. Contractions maintained a steady rhythm, about 5 minutes apart, yet not excruciating. We decided to labor at home until 9 PM when the intensity escalated. Grabbing our bags, and kissing the dog goodbye, we called the hospital to notify them of our impending arrival.

At 3:15 AM, after just 4 contractions of pushing, I welcomed a beautiful, healthy baby boy. The labor unfolded seamlessly, and if I could turn back time, I'd do it exactly the same, midwives' brew included

Citations

1. DeMaria, A. L., Sundstrom, B., Moxley, G. E., Banks, K., Bishop, A., & Rathbun, L. (2018). Castor oil as a natural alternative to labor induction: A retrospective descriptive study. Women and Birth, 31(2), e99-e104.

2. Gilad, R., Hochner, H., Savitsky, B., Porat, S., & Hochner-Celnikier, D. (Year of Publication). Castor oil for induction of labor in post-date pregnancies: A randomized controlled trial.

3. Lamadah, S. M., Mohamed, H. A. E. A., & El-Khedr, S. M. (2014). Castor Oil Safety and Effectiveness on Labour Induction and Neonatal Outcome. Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, 4(4), 1-4. Retrieved from http://www.iiste.org/Journals/index.php/JBAH/article/view/15742

4. Moradi, M., Niazi, A., Mazloumi, E., & Lopez, V. (2022). Effect of Castor Oil on Cervical Ripening and Labor Induction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Pharmacopuncture, 25(2), 71–78. https://doi.org/10.3831/KPI.2022.25.2.71