Pitocin

From WikiParenting

Oxytocin is a hormone that is produced in a woman’s body that causes labor contractions, among other functions. Pitocin is the synthetic version of this hormone. It may be administered to a pregnant woman to start labor or to speed up a stalled labor, typically in liquid form in the mother’s intravenous line.

[edit] Why Pitocin is used

Pitocin may be used if labor needs to be induced for the health of the mother or baby.

[edit] Mother’s health

Your caregiver may want to induce your labor using Pitocin if you have conditions such as:

• Diabetes – your caregiver may want to induce your labor early to prevent birth complications caused by a baby that has grown to large
• Preeclampsia – Your labor may be induced if you develop preeclampsia because the condition can be life threatening for both you and your baby. Preeclampsia causes physical changes in the mother that result in not enough blood reaching the uterus to supply the baby. The only treatment currently available is delivery of the baby. If the baby has a good chance of surviving premature birth, labor will be induced.
• Premature Rupture of Membranes - If your bag of waters (the amniotic sac) ruptures before you are in labor, your caregiver may induce your labor to avoid risking an infection –Chorioamnionitis. As the length of time that has passed since the amniotic sac has ruptured increases, so does the chance that the baby will be infected. Chorioamnionitis has been linked to preterm labor, placental abruption and uterine atony and the associated danger of hemorrhaging.
• Oligohydramnios - an amount of fluid in the amniotic sac that is less than a normal amount. The condition complicates delivery by increasing the risk the risk of umbilical cord compression and the chances that the fetus will aspirate meconium.
• Labor that is not progressing as it should, dystocia. Pitocin may be administered if your caregiver thinks that your labor may be helped by Pitocin, as an alternative to an emergency cesarean section.

[edit] Fetal health

You may need to be induced if your caregiver determines that your baby:

• Has macrosomia – If your baby is estimated to weigh 4000 grams or more, or just less than 9 pounds. Your caregiver may want to deliver the baby early so that a vaginal delivery can be attempted.
• Is overdue – If you are in week 42 or more, it is known as post term gestation or post date pregnancy. This is the most common reason that women have labor induced, and considered the best reason to administer Pitocin.

[edit] Risks of Pitocin

There are risks associated with the use of Pitocin to start or speed up labor. You and your caregiver must weigh the benefits as compared to the drawbacks when making the decision to use the medication. Every woman responds to Pitocin differently, and should be carefully monitored. Risks of Pitocin administration include:

• Fetal Distress
• Painful contractions due to the intensity and frequency of the contractions
• Greater likelihood of asking for an epidural
• Uterine rupture

[edit] Benefits

The greatest benefit of using Pitocin is realized when a cesarean section can be avoided.

[edit] How it is given

Every woman responds to Pitocin differently so it is typical to start with a small amount to see how her body responds to the medication before increasing the dose. Dosage increases can happen every 15 to 30 minutes until the caregivers see a pattern of contractions that they were looking for. In some cases, Pitocin will be started and an amniotomy will be performed in the hopes of inducing labor.

[edit] Alternatives to Pitocin

If you would prefer not to have Pitocin until you have exhausted all your options, you can try natural ways to induce labor, including:

• Walking
• Stimulation of the nipples
• Sex, if your water has not yet broken
• Enemas
• Castor Oil

If your labor is stalling and you need to speed it up, try:

• Walking
• Changing to a different position
• Resting to avoid exhaustion
• Nipple stimulation

[edit] Who should not use Pitocin?

Some women should not be given Pitocin to start or augment labor, including women who:

• Have Pelvic Disproportion
• Have placenta previa
• have active herpes lesions
• Have had prior surgery on the uterus
• Had a cesarean in the past that was closed with a classical incision (a vertical incision into the uterus itself).