I have heard castor oil works, I don't see how it could hurt the baby. But I would probably wait until someone else that knows more comes along and gives some more advice. Anyways I hope you have a fast and healthy pregnancy! Let me know how it goes. I've got about 6 weeks to go.....So i'm gettin' a little nervous as this is our first child! Good luck
-hopeful

Hi- i'm holding my 10 wek old baby girl (maeve ellen) right now, so excuse any typos!!!
I had a terrible back problem (2 slipped disks)and I was in dreadful pain- they were also telling me that my baby was pretty bi, so rom about36-37 weeks, I was trying to move things along.
I started drinking rasbeery leadf tea, taking evening primrose oil and I tried castor oil for the first time just after 37 weeks- I did get contractions (as well as dreadful diarhea) the contractions didn't cause any dilation thiough- so I was sent home from hospital. The next time I triec it I got contractions again, but they went away after a couple of hours.
I tried niple stimulation, rasbeery leaf tablets and I still went all the way to my due date.
I did castor oil on my due date- dose late in the morning, and another small dose a couple of hours later(about 1ishy I think)
i went into labour just after 6pm, whjen I got to hospital around 8.30 I was already 5cm dilated- less then 4 hours after that, my baby was born.
I don't know if I would have gone into labour that day anyway, but one thing I do know- if your cervix is not ready and soft ("ripe" they call it) all the contractions in the world won't make it dilate.
Better to forget about all the old wives remedies and if you feel like you want to be doing something - step up your pelvic floor excersizes ans strengthen all the muscles you'l need for pushing.
Good luck !!