that my post of Castor Oil as an induction method has gotten quite a few reads lately. If you read it all, you will see that the paper was written as a microbiology assignment and as such had to meet VERY strict guidelines. At the end of the day, I believe induction methods should not be used with VBAC moms without a very thorough discussion of the increased risks of uterine rupture. Do the research – make your own assessments, by all means. I’m not trying to say I am some kind of expert. Not at all.
I understand that at the end of a pregnancy, when Mama is swollen and miserable, and can’t sleep and is BEGGING for the midwife to do something – well, I understand the position that puts the midwife in. I do. Still… my personal position is that midwives are guardians of natural, physiological birth. Having said that, at the end of the day I am still of the opinion that mom has the final say. Midwives are servants, guardians, chauffeurs.
One dictionary defines a chauffeur like this:
“A chauffeur is an individual who operates any self-propelled vehicle for a profession. He or she does not own the vehicle he is operating, and does so at the discretion of the owner.”
So by all means, don’t take my article on castor oil induction as anything more than what it is: My opinion based on the research **I** did. 
