Evidence Based Birth®

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Join the waitlist at ebbirth.com/waitlist to get early access and special perks.
Want to see inside? Watch the video version on our YouTube channel!

Join the waitlist at ebbirth.com/waitlist to get early access and special perks.
Want to see inside? Watch the video version on our YouTube channel!

Does castor oil or eating dates actually help labor begin? In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Dekker explores the research on these two approaches, including their potential effects on cervical ripening, the onset of labor, and the need for medical induction or augmentation. She examines randomized trials, systematic reviews, and recent hospital studies while explaining what the evidence can—and cannot—tell us about benefits and safety.
Dr. Dekker also discusses why castor oil may work differently for people who have given birth before, the limitations of safety data after a prior Cesarean, and research on consuming dates during late pregnancy and labor. Plus, what to discuss with your care provider when considering whether these approaches fit your individual circumstances.
 
(03:06) Understanding the Bishop score and cervical ripening
(04:11) How castor oil might stimulate labor
(06:41) Reviewing the research on castor oil for labor induction
(09:26) Prior vaginal birth and findings from randomized trials
(14:27) Hospital use of castor oil in Germany and recent observational research
(21:41) Potential side effects and the importance of clinical guidance
(23:26) Safety questions after a prior Cesarean or uterine surgery
(25:27) A community midwife's experience and castor oil protocol
(28:10) Rebecca's personal experience and how castor oil is prepared
(29:52) The bottom line on castor oil evidence
(31:06) Date fruit's traditional uses and nutritional properties
(33:41) Limitations of date fruit research and considerations for people with diabetes
(35:06) Meta-analysis findings on cervical readiness and labor length
(39:10) Research quality concerns and a closer look at individual trials
(41:49) Research on date syrup and labor pain
(43:19) Trial findings on spontaneous labor and cervical dilation
(44:38) Amounts and timing of date consumption studied in pregnancy
(47:04) Final takeaways, evidence limitations, and discussing options with your care provider
 
For a full list of references, visit ebbirth.com/418.

Birth and death are two of life's most profound transitions, and both deserve compassionate, person-centered care. In honor of National Caregivers Month, doula and founder of the Global Doula Project Anne Kathryn Rice joins Dr. Rebecca Dekker to explore the similarities between supporting families at the beginning and end of life. Drawing from their personal experiences with loss, they discuss the role of death doulas, how families can prepare for the dying process, and why emotional, physical, and informational support matters during life's biggest transitions. Anne Kathryn also shares how the Global Doula Project is working to make doula care more accessible to families around the world.
 
Content Note: This episode includes discussions of death, dying, grief, and the loss of loved ones, including personal experiences with difficult and traumatic end-of-life care. Please take care while listening.
 
(02:55) Anne Kathryn's journey into doula work
(09:48) The spiritual and emotional similarities between birth and death
(14:12) What is a death doula?
(18:41) How death doulas provide practical, emotional, and informational support
(23:25) Addressing fears and preparing for the dying process
(26:24) The history of community support and the growing death doula profession
(30:22) End-of-life wishes, medical interventions, and planning ahead
(35:06) Creating a safe and supportive environment at the end of life
(44:55) The importance of cultural, religious, and spiritual traditions at death
(47:51) The similarities between grief and the transition into parenthood
(50:19) The mission of the Global Doula Project
 
Resources
Learn more about the Global Doula Project: https://www.globaldoulaproject.org/
Follow the Global Doula Project on Instagram:http://instagram.com/globaldoulaproject
 
For more information about Evidence Based Birth and a crash course on evidence based care, visit www.ebbirth.com. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube! Ready to learn more? Grab an EBB Podcast Listening Guide or read Dr. Dekker's book, "Babies Are Not Pizzas: They're Born, Not Delivered!" If you want to get involved at EBB, join our Professional membership (scholarship options available) and get on the wait list for our EBB Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the EBB Childbirth Class.