Many different substances have gained the reputation for being able to induce labor in late pregnancy, with cod liver oil among them. However, no scientific evidence supports the use of cod liver oil in inducing labor, and it is likely ineffective. Taken in large doses, it could result in very uncomfortable side effects.
Cod Liver Oil
Cod liver oil is a common pregnancy supplement, because it contains high levels of omega- 3 fatty acids, explains AmericanPregnancy.org. These are fatty acids your cells need to help maintain normal function. Omega-3s are not common in the American diet, but cold-water fish are rich sources. In particular, cod and other cold-water fish contain docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, which helps promote proper brain development in the fetus.
Labor
As your body begins to approach the end of pregnancy, you'll experience changes over a period of days to weeks in your uterus and cervix. These sometimes occur without your knowledge, or you may have Braxton-Hicks contractions -- "practice" contractions -- that can help your body move toward labor. Doctors don't know precisely what causes you to go into true labor, which makes it difficult both to predict when labor will start and to get labor going if it hasn't yet started.
Misconceptions
The notion that cod liver oil will help you go into labor is based on misconceptions. Some individuals confuse cod liver oil with castor oil, which is a common alternative method of starting labor, but which isn't supported by scientific evidence. Any oil -- cod liver oil included -- can cause you to experience gut cramping if you take it in excess. The cramping may feel like you're going into labor, but it's not the same thing.
Considerations
If you're pondering using cod liver oil or any other food or herb to try to induce labor, you should talk to your doctor first. Some of the substances recommended as labor inducers aren't safe to take during pregnancy, and none have proven effective. Further, according to an article in the "Wall Street Journal," inducing labor early can be detrimental to your baby's brain development, as the last weeks of pregnancy are a critical period of brain growth.
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