The risks of Pitocin are distress, lack of oxygen, brain damage, increased risk of C-sections, uterine rupture, postpartum hemorrhage and the intensity of the induced labor due to the overly intense contractions.
There's also concerns about misuse of Pitocin and even potential links to higher postpartum depression in Black women.
While Pitocin is useful for preventing bleeding and induction of labor, it's also powerful and artificial stimulation, which can create complications for both the baby and mother if it's not managed carefully.
Before they start Pitocin you will be dilated at least 2 to 3 centimeters, although sometimes you may need cervical ripening agents first if it's closed, thick and high.
Pitocin causes contractions, but cannot effectively open a cervix that is not already ripe or prepped for labor, so doctors will check it's condition first before starting Pitocin.
Pitocin induces labor and starts contractions within 30 minutes to 60 minutes, although the time to full labor occurring can vary greatly and range from hours to a couple of days after starting Pitocin.
It also depends on how ripe your cervix is and if you've given birth before and it's given in slowly increasing doses until the contractions establish a pattern.
Mild contractions after starting Pitocin may begin pretty quickly, but it often takes several hours on Pitocin and sometimes 6 to 12 hours or more for a first time mother to reach active labor with Pitocin.
Pitocin labor induction is extremely and excruciatingly painful and after starting Pitocin it quickly ramps up to excruciating and painful long contraction, because it creates stronger and more frequent contractions, often with less rest between them, and lacks the natural endorphin releasing pain relief which comes with natural labor, which makes it harder to cope.
Many women on Pitocin also report needing an epidural and while Pitocin does speed up labor, the rapid onset and continuous nature of the artificial contractions during labor can feel very overwhelming when compared to the natural and gradual buildup of natural labor.
You can also walk around while on Pitocin as long as you're feeling up to walking around.
When on Pitocin you can walk around and move around as much as you want and many hospitals also use wireless telemetry, which allows you to move around and walk down halls, use the bathroom or even use a birthing ball.
Although if you have an epidural, your movement may be limited to your room.
Pitocin also requires close monitoring of contractions and the baby, which is why you can't leave the hospital when on Pitocin.
The reason why you would discontinue Pitocin during labor is to prevent uterine hyperstimulation, which is when your contractions are too strong and too frequent, which also reduces the risks like abnormal fetal heart rates as well as fetal distress and possible C-sections, which allows for a more natural progression and reduces overall Pitocin exposure.
Stopping Pitocin, especially once active labor has been established, can also decrease any severe maternal and neonatal morbidity, although it might lengthen labor slightly.
The common reasons for stopping or discontinuing Pitocin are a result natural labor progression, less medication exposure, reduced risk of C-section and Uterine Tachysystole.
With uterine Tachysystole contractions become too intense, too long or too close together, which can reduce oxygen to the baby.
With fetal distress, the baby's heart rate drops as a result of the insufficient oxygen from overactive contractions, which indicates stress.
And lowering hyperstimulation also decreases the need for emergency interventions like C-sections.
And discontinuing the Pitocin allows your body to take over if the labor is progressing well, such as cervical dilation of 1cm/hr after the initial induction or augmentation.
The reason hospitals push Pitocin is to induce labor or augment the labor when your contractions are too slow or too weak as well as to prevent postpartum bleeding by helping your uterus contract after birth.
Pitocin is commonly pushed by hospitals when there's medical reasons to speed up the delivery of the baby like high blood pressure or even post term pregnancy, or if the labor stalls.
Pushing Pitocin during labor ensures the health of you as the mother as well as the baby by moving things along during the birthing process more efficiently, although the use of Pitocin also requires close monitoring for both the baby and the mother.
Pitocin was also designed for hemorrhaging, and it also works well to prevent postpartum hemorrhaging and retained placenta.
You can also say no to Pitocin and refuse Pitocin as it's your right to accept or decline medical interventions during childbirth.
Although saying no to Pitocin or declining Pitocin also requires clear communication with your doctor as well as understanding the specific reasons for declining the Pitocin.
Pitocin helps in inducing contractions and or strengthen contractions during labor, but Pitocin also brings on risks like more intense pain or even overstimulation, so weighing the benefits against the risks with your doctor is also crucial for an informed decision on whether or not you want to use Pitocin during labor.
The baby often comes within 6 to 8 hours after pitocin.
If your cervix is already dilated, then the labor may progress more quickly after you start pitocin or if you've had previous vaginal births you may also experience labor more rapidly after starting pitocin.
The amount of pitocin also administered will also affect the frequency and intensity of the contractions.
It can take around 40 minutes after you start pitocin before you begin to see evidence of contractions.
Pitocin can be safe for many women although it does come with some risk as Pitocin can disrupt the natural hormonal balance of labor, which can lead to more intense and even possibly problematic contractions.
It could potentially cause harm to both you as the mother and your baby.
Pitocin is commonly used to induce or augment labor, but it does come with some risks and side effects.
Pitocin bypasses your body's natural regulation of oxytocin, which can result in contractions which can be too strong or too frequent or even too long, which can compromise the baby's supply of oxygen.
And pitocin can also increase the likelihood of other interventions such as instrumental deliveries "vacuum or forceps" or even epidurals and cesarean sections.
And overstimulation of your uterus with Pitocin can also cause fetal heart rate de-accelerations and distress and require immediate intervention, such as stopping the Pitocin or performing of a cesarean section.
The reason why Pitocin contractions hurt more is because the contractions are being artificially induced and so your body does not respond in the same way as it would with normal contractions.
Pitocin is a synthetic form of the hormone called oxytocin and is used for inducing or even augmenting labor contractions and it can make the contractions feel worse.
You can dilate faster after Pitocin by keeping hydrated, drinking enough water, maintaining an upright and also mobile position and use some warm compresses or counter pressure.