Were you given pitocin, and why?

[Anonymous]

I am 22 wks pregnant with my first baby, and I would like to attempt a natural childbirth. I'm a physician. Recently I switched from Foxhall to the midwives at the DC Family Health & Birth Center because I feel like my chances of a natural delivery will be much higher with a midwife. One of my big concerns is that I will never be able to tolerate the pain of contractions if given pitocin -- which almost all laboring women are given, from what I remember from med school. So, I was wondering -- for all of you moms out there, were you given pitocin, and if so, what was the reason that the doctor gave you? My personal opinion is that the OB's give it to hurry women along who really do not need it, and it makes contractions awful and unbearable. Was the pain of contractions a lot worse post-pitocin than pre, and did anyone need pain medication after pitocin when they were tolerating the contractions beforehand?

[Anonymous]

I got pitocin because my water broke but natural contractions didn't start on their own. My pit contractions were very painful, but I have no basis for comparison to what a natural contraction would be like. They stopped the pit at one point because the baby was in slight distress (but quickly recovered, otherwise it would've been a stat c/s), and the contractions really spaced out even though I was already 7 cm and in "active" labor. They picked up again once they re-started pit. I got the epi very early, not so much for pain but because I wasn't dilating (even with pitocin). My doctor assumed, correctly as it turned out, that it would help me relax and get things going. I was always planning on the epi so it was fine with me.

[Anonymous]

I also got pitocin because my water broke and my labor stalled. I labored for 17 hours and didn't get past 3-4 cm so I eventually agreed to the pitocin since I knew I was on the hospital clock and wanted to avoid a c-section.

FWIW, I did manage to go without the epidural--my goal was also a "natural" birth. The pain was very intense, but I was prepared to handle it (took a Bradley class and was super determined). I delivered with a midwife and doula at the hospital, but am planning for a birth center or homebirth this time around and also switched practices.

I'm really hoping my water doesn't break and that I don't need pitocin this time around!!

[Anonymous]

I was induced at 42 weeks. The contractions weren't too bad at first on the pitocin (though I have no non-pit contractions to compare them to) but were MUCH more painful after my water broke and came fast and furious with not much break in between. I have a fairly high pain tolerance, and put up with it for a while, but it was back labor and after a while I asked for the epi at 5 cm. I got to 8 cm and stalled out and never dilated further. Ended up with a C. I don't know if I would have ended up with a c section if I hadn't induced, the baby was sunny side up and huge and it would have been tricky. I don't have regrets, I have a healthy baby! But if you can avoid induction or pitocin at all, definitely do it.

[Anonymous]

I was given pitocin because my water had broken about 18 hrs before we got to the hospital and labor was not progressing. I knew I did not want natural childbirth, so in my case, I got an epidural immediately after the pitocin. And both did their jobs just fine.

[Anonymous]

I was also given pitocin because I was going on 24 hours of labor with ruptured membranes and I was stalled at contractions that were 4 minutes apart and a minute long. I was already in a lot of pain and the pitocin didn't make them more painful, but the drug made the pains much closer together very quickly so I didn't have a chance to recover. I eventually went with an epi. It was fine. My second labor was 42 hours long, the doc had to rupture my membranes and then do pitocin. I think, though, things are different for everyone and I'm just cursed with long labors that don't really go anywhere. It doesn't really have to be that way for you!

[Anonymous]

I haven't delivered yet so I can't answer your question specifically, but based on the reading I've done, I'd agree with your statement that "OB's give it to hurry women along who really do not need it." I'd especially suggest this article on inductions that has been posted elsewhere on this forum recently: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33483153/ns/health-pregnancy/. You can of course refuse pitocin, or any medical intervention, especially if you feel that the medical reasons they are pushing it are spurious.

[Anonymous]

I was given pitocin to start and maintain labor at 38 weeks because I had preeclampsia. I was able to deliver without an epidural or pain drugs. I haven't had natural contractions so I can't compare but the pain, while intense, was bearable by the natural chemicals flooding your brain, the "going inside" mental aspect of it, and the weird warping of time that you experience. I labored for about 8 hours.

It was indeed more painful after they broke my water. My doula told me that the good thing about pitocin contractions is that don't get significantly worse at transition and mind did not.

[Anonymous]

If you want a natural childbirth, I really suggest a Bradley class.

An OB cannot make you take pitocin...but they really do push it on you if you aren't dilating fast enough. The thing to remember when you are in labor is that labor takes time and if everything is going okay, why rush the process. You have the RIGHT to decline all procedures and medicines.

[Anonymous]

My doctor offered me pitocin becasue my water broke, I had meconium (sp?) and in her opinion my contractions were not strong enough. Anyway, I said no and I kept saying no for about 6 hours. I gave in after the 6 hour mark and did not really feel a difference in the intensity of the contractions. It did speed up dilation becasue one minute the doc was scolding me for not accepting the drug earlier and the next she was frantically telling all the nurses to get me ready to push. BTW, I was kept on a monitor the whole time and the baby was never at risk.

Good luck and as a prior poster noted, the doctor cannot make you take anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:which almost all laboring women are given, from what I remember from med school.

And this is a good reason to switch to the midwives.

I did not get pitocin. I made it very clear -- to my doctors ahead of time, to the nurses via my birth plan -- that my intention and expectation were to do the birth naturally. My DH and doula knew that they were to get all details if pitocin were suggested, which is wasn't.

Some ideas for avoiding pitocin: go the the hospital/birth center as late as you can, don't get an epidural, and remain upright as much as you can (gravity is your friend!)

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

My water broke at home and there was plenty of meconium in the fluid. But I wasn't having real contractions, so I got pitocin to speed things along, since ingesting meconium is not a great idea for the baby.

[Anonymous]

You didn't ask, but just wanted to say I *wasn't* given pitocin (at Sibley with RHJ), so that does happen too. I did get an Epi - at 8 cm - but as far as I know, nothing before then except the IV fluids.

Of course - I had a quick labor (showed up at the hospital with intact membranes at 4 cm and was at 8cm 2 hours later), so I can't imagine a reason they would have pushed the pit for me.

And I think you're doing a lot to avoid it just by going with the midwives.

[Anonymous]

I got pit with #1 (induced by OB). Entire labor was under 2 hrs, I did not get an epi. Yes, contractions were intense. With #2 I switched to a MW and delievered my beautiful babe with no epi, no pit. You can do it!!!!

[Anonymous]

Had it twice. First time, water broke, no contractions after 24 hours. Tried to labor naturally--gave up after 18 hours, had an epi and then had baby vaginally.
Second time, I was 41.5 weeks, stress test was OK, but not great, we decided to induce. Didn't bother with natural. Got the pit, in labor for 1.5 hours, baby out in three pushes. so easy. First time I pushed 3 hours to avoid a C-section--there are pros and cons to this....