Pushing Pitocin

I had my son on April 6th 2000. This was my 1st child and was very excited to be having a boy! In the hospital, I was given Pitocin twice. I asked for it once and then asked if I could have some more and the nurse gave me some more of it. I don't remember how far I was dialated by the time they gave me my 2nd dose of pitocin, but I know shortly after it was time to push. I felt all drugged up by the time I had to push. My doctor arrived just in time to push and I remember him asking me to push although I didn't have enough energy or the strengh to push more than prob a few times. He had to use a suction cup on my baby's head to help him come out. I had to have an epizeoutomy? sorry about the spelling...thats when they cut you down there and then sow you back up between your vagina and anus. When my son was finally born they had to suction out his mouth and nose. I believe they said they had to suction out the excess fluid out of his lungs. Then they poked him so many times on both of his little hands before they finally found his vien to draw blood. They gave him a bath and layed him in my arms. I was so excited to be a new mom. I was waiting for my son to open his eyes and greet me. He was born at 7:37am and did not open his eyes untill around 6 or 7PM!!! I believe the pitocin affected his ability to open his eyes. 3 day later I found out he had Jaundice. I think all this could have been avoided had I not recieved so much pitocin. I wanted to share my story because I think they should look into the pitocin side effects more and not use this drug during labor any longer. Now my son is 10. When he was about 4 to 5 years old he had problems going to the bathroom. He was always constipated. I took him to the doctor and he had a test done for his constipation and bloating. He was always backed up. I don't know if maybe this could have had anything to do with the jaudice. Thankfully my son has surpassed his bowel problems and is healthy. I'm just starting to get a little concerned now because he has started to show symtoms of add or adhd. Can anyone please help with advise?? I don't know if I getting paranoid or if all this could have something to do with the side effects of pitocin. Now one in my family or my husbands has a history or any mental illness, so I am kind of concerned. I will talk to a doctor to see what they have to say. I don't think there is enough research on pitocin yet. I would advise any pregnant woman to choose a different method. One last thing I forgot to mention is after I gave birth to my son while still in the hospital bed, I had to get up to use the bathroom and my left leg was completely asleep. I had to get help from the nurses to carry me to the toilet. It was numb for a while and went away before I was released from the hospital. I did use a wheel chair because I was very week.

I was wondering about pitocin after delivery. Never thought it was something that was up to me. Got something to think about now. Will have to take this information and talk with friends who have been through labor and delivery already.

I just had my second grandchild in the last 3 months and both were most unpleasant experiences. The latest little fellow came with great distress after my daughter in law was convinced about the safety of pitocin and that her :favorite OB" would not be available if the baby came on the weekend. So she had labor induced and had the baby after 14 hours of pitocin, a baby with a bruise on his head and who had trouble breathing (normal the dr. said), a placenta that was manually moved in 3 ! pieces, and a rip all the way to the rectum, not to mention excruciating pain.The lovely sparkling mother to be was now a worn out, drugged, startled, yet happy to have a baby boy mom. It is so unfortunate that we have allowed drs. to convince women that pitocin is a welcome thing to use! Many health and safety issues the mom and baby endure are quickly forgotten, as the euphoria of having baby takes over. The OB is counting on this. It may go fine for many, but, I would not want to be those that it has caused multiple problems for...and this is just a minute "highlight "of this beautiful mom's labor and delivery. Hopefully more moms to be will actively educate themselves and not be pressured into these unfortunate situations.

I had a similar experience. Was given Pitocin without my consent. Could not take the pain and asked them to take it out of my IV. The nurses were not too happy, but it's not their body. We should be talked with about this beforehand. They wouldn't give us Demerol without our consent, now would they? What's the difference?

When my third baby was born, I remember laying in bed after my c-section delivery in such pain. I couldn't even visit with my family. Was told it was the pitocin, which I had not been asked about at all before given. I told them to remove it from my IV. My uterus shrunk down fine on its own. I do think this is something that should be discussed first with the patient. Great article.