After the baby has been born, if there is an IV in place, the care provider may ask the nurses to give pitocin through it. The pitocin will help the uterus to contract and significantly decreases blood loss. Mothers need to know that usually the staff does not ask parents if they want pitocin added to the IV. They hang a bag of pitocin on the IV pole and connect it to the tubing that is already in place. Oftentimes, the mother is looking at her baby and doesn't notice this happening. Parents can discuss this postpartum pitocin with their care provider during a prenatal visit, to learn how they determine when to use pitocin. Parents can also request that it not be given without consent at time of birth.

Because Pitocin is causing the uterus to contract strongly, it causes increased after pains. Many mothers begin to shake, as if they are shivering. This is partly due to the hormone rush of birth, but Pitocin, a synthetic hormone, increases the shaking. It improves in relatively short amount of time, usually by a half an hour following the birth.

If a mother does not have an IV in place, but needs pitocin to slow bleeding after the birth, she can receive it quickly and easily through an intra-muscular injection in the thigh. Also, breastfeeding or manual nipple stimulation can help to slow bleeding.

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.