I thought I'd share my previous experience (almost 5 years ago) when I had my son. I took castor oil and it worked, granted I was already a 3cm/70%effacted so my body was also ready. Let me tell you, I had the worse diarrhea. I felt so bad until I got the epidural and then I was able to relax. I was constantly going to the bathroom and it was just bad. Also, after I gave birth I spiked a 104 fever and couldn't see my baby for 24 hours after it went down :( I don't judge people for trying it (obviously, I did it.) but I hear a lot of people wanting to hear personal experience with it so I thought I'd share mine. I'll never do it again. And let me say, the thought of the taste alone still makes me gag.