Pitocin: Risks and Reasons for Induction and Scheduled
Births
Pitocin is the brand name for synthetic oxytocin, combined
with a small amount of a chloroform derivative used as a
preservative and Ph-stabilized with acetic acid. It’s used
to induce labor in women whose labors aren’t progressing,
and all too often, it’s used in scheduled births. Pitocin is
usually administered in IV drip, and requires fetal
monitoring, effectively making labor more difficult by
confining the woman to her bed. If the amniotic sac is still
intact, a medical professional will break it before
administering the drug. Most women complete labor within 12
hours of receiving Pitocin
Pitocin Can Be Overused During Delivery
Some experts estimate that in 3-5% of labor cases, Pitocin
helps with delivery. But a medical researcher based at the
University of Texas released a study in 1998 showing that 81% of
women surveyed were given Pitocin. Often, Pitocin is used after
a successful delivery to accelerate delivery of the placenta—an
unnecessary procedure, as the usual methods of nipple
stimulation by nursing and uterine massage generally do the job
just fine.
Pitocin is necessary when labor isn’t progressing, but some
experts say it’s being used too early or too late: the optimal
window is when the Bishop’s score is 5 or over, but before the
woman is exhausted. With a Bishop’s score under 5, the cervix
isn’t sufficiently ripened, and Pitocin is much less likely to
work. Once the mother is too tired, the increased pain and
lengthened contractions normally reported by Pitocin users will
only worsen the situation, often resulting in C-section.
Pitocin For Scheduled Birth
Scheduled birth induction gained in popularity in the ‘80s,
when working women tried to fit childbearing into skin-tight
work schedules. No matter what the career magazines say,
inducing labor to “get back to your life” is a mistake. Inducing
labor because the water has broken but labor hasn’t begun,
because labor isn’t moving along, or because you need to get the
baby out fast for medical reasons, is the reason for using
hormonal induction. Many hospitals use it as a matter of course,
to fit the doctors’ schedules, and to move women in and out of
the hospital at top speed. Women have to stand up for themselves
(not so easy when you’re hunched over with contractions!) and
refuse to be treated as medical-mechanical objects. When
designing your birth plan, make sure your physician agrees to
use it only if there’s no other choice.
Risks Associated With Pitocin
Pitocin has side effects that include longer, stronger, much
more painful contractions; injury to the uterus or placenta,
vaginal damage and potential for fetal anoxia. Pitocin also
increases your chance of having an epidural. (If an epidural is
administered first and too soon (before the cervix is adequately
dilated), your body stops releasing oxytocin and the chance of
failing to progress in labor is greatly increased, increasing
your chances of then being given Pitocin.)
In some circumstances, it is best to move right to Cesarean
section without using medicine. If the baby is to big for your
pelvis (fetopelvic disproportion); if you’ve had uterine surgery
that prevents the baby from exiting normally or that may cause
you injury; if there is an active infection; or in cases of
placenta previa, labor induction drugs will not help. If you’ve
had a previous Cesarean and are going vbac (vaginal birth after
Cesarean), don’t let your doctor assume that you’ll need Pitocin
or other prostaglandin drugs for labor induction; every birth is
different.
Natural Alternatives to Pitocin
Try alternatives before using Pitocin, (which is also passed
to the baby in breast milk). Natural oxytocin is secreted by
your body during birth (also during orgasm and nipple
stimulation). Simple movement, such as walking or changing
positions is a great assist in labor, and can help move labor
along without drugs. A doula or midwife can tell you how to
advance your labor naturally.
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