Pushing Pitocin

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.

For both of my sons, I once not asked once about pitocin being given. The nurses came in and started adding it on the IV when I asked what it was and why was it needed. They were rather flippant with the response with "It's just pitocin. Everyone gets it." I had already researched it and was OK with it BUT not all patients would have even thought to ask given the circumstances.

In my humble opinion, I feel that doctor's push it so they don't have to come in at 2 in the morning to deliver a baby. It's easier to "schedule" the time if they can force the body to speed up. For both of mine, I delivered by 5:30 p.m. that evening and, if it looked like it wasn't going fast enough, the pitocin drip was increased to ensure the time was met.