A danger of PITOCIN. Please read.

[Celticqueen]

I know I just posted a thread but I don't get on MDC very often so during the day on some days, I realize things I should post.

Here is my unfortunate testimony to be used as CAUTION to anyone who recieves pitocin.

I don't have time to type out my entire labor, but basically, pitocin abused my uterus into uterine distress and the midwife and nurses had to frantically stop uncontrollable bleeding. I bled and bled after giving birth and were almost unable to stop it. I even got to the "dizzy" point from loosing so much blood and I couldn't even see anyone for awhile. I then became anemic and am still dead tired, all because I was put on this awful stuff that I have vowed to never use again, no matter what the circumstance.

So there is my testimony. Thoughts are welcome. Please be cautioned of using pitocin. It's NOT natural. :

[Quindin]

OMG! I am sorry about it!!
I am very surprised about it - I thought pitocin was meant to help stop bleeding.

Having bled heavily a couple of times myself I just wanted to suggest that you REST and eat VERY WELL! The first time I gave birth, I had lost so much blood that I could not talk or breath well for a couple of days!

Last time around I was surprised when my MIL told DH to cook me some huge bloody stakes saying that it would help, but amazingly it did! DH was amazed to see the color come back to cheeks as I ate, so you may want to try that.

[~Heyokha~]

wow, hugs mama

I had a nasty experience with pit too. Thats what turned me into the homebirth lover that I am.

[Celticqueen]

Originally Posted by polihaupt

OMG! I am sorry about it!!
I am very surprised about it - I thought pitocin was meant to help stop bleeding.

Having bled heavily a couple of times myself I just wanted to suggest that you REST and eat VERY WELL! The first time I gave birth, I had lost so much blood that I could not talk or breath well for a couple of days!

Last time around I was surprised when my MIL told DH to cook me some huge bloody stakes saying that it would help, but amazingly it did! DH was amazed to see the color come back to cheeks as I ate, so you may want to try that.

Yeah! I had no idea pit. could do that either but sure enough, it even has a name: uterine atony. It was my midwife who came into my hospital room after the birth to tell me about it.

And thanks for the advice! You're so sweet.

[savvybabygrace]

I've had my own problems with pitocin, and I agree with you; it is NOT natural!!! I hope you are resting and feeling better soon!

[Celticqueen]

Originally Posted by savvybabygrace

I've had my own problems with pitocin, and I agree with you; it is NOT natural!!! I hope you are resting and feeling better soon!

Yeah, it's NOT NATURAL despite what anyone says. I hate that the midwives kept telling me that pictocin was the same hormone as "oxytocin" just presented differently. NO IT IS NOT. NO IT IS NOT! I realize I have nothing to compare my birth to because I've only done it once but I am here to say that I know for a fact those back to back to back stabbing contractions could not have been anywhere near natural. Oxytocin is supposed to release feel good hormones like with exercise. Pitocin does not do this even in the slightest.

[bryannastreasure]

my easy labor went downhill after pit. ending with an emergency emergent C-section after Carlin's monitor made that horrible tone. beeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. My girlfriend attended me into surgery and she says they had trouble grabbing hold of carlin, and then my monitor made that tone too. but the short dr notes don't address any of that.

he perked up within his 1 minute and 5 minute apgars.

kiss the babies~

love and light,
Bryanna

[wobit]

Originally Posted by Mommyofwills

Yeah, it's NOT NATURAL despite what anyone says. I hate that the midwives kept telling me that pictocin was the same hormone as "oxytocin" just presented differently. NO IT IS NOT. NO IT IS NOT! I realize I have nothing to compare my birth to because I've only done it once but I am here to say that I know for a fact those back to back to back stabbing contractions could not have been anywhere near natural. Oxytocin is supposed to release feel good hormones like with exercise. Pitocin does not do this even in the slightest.

This is why they say that, and how to explain why you are both right.

Pitocin is chemically exactly like oxytocin, but it affects you totally differently for two reasons.
First, oxytocin is made in your brain, in the neurohypophysis. It can leave the brain to get to your body through specialized circulation but it cannot get back in due to the blood-brain barrier. So unless your oxytocin starts in the brain, you don't get the brain effects - the feel-good part. Pitocin is given in the vein and doesn't get into your brain.
Second, the natural waves of oxytocin released in response to orgasm, nipple stimulation, or cervical stretching are very gentle and fade in and out. Even the lowest dose of pitocin, given in a bolus or a steady drip, affects the uterus in a different way, creating a different contraction. Pitocin's pattern of release is too harsh and allows poor rest between contractions.

And - to explain why a previous poster had heard pit can stop bleeding - if the uterus isn't exhausted pit can contract it, which can often help stop bleeding after birth. But if the uterus is exhausted as in uterine atony, which can result after a pitocin-induced labor, it can't contract - which is why it bleeds.

[Celticqueen]

Originally Posted by wobit

This is why they say that, and how to explain why you are both right.

Pitocin is chemically exactly like oxytocin, but it affects you totally differently for two reasons.
First, oxytocin is made in your brain, in the neurohypophysis. It can leave the brain to get to your body through specialized circulation but it cannot get back in due to the blood-brain barrier. So unless your oxytocin starts in the brain, you don't get the brain effects - the feel-good part. Pitocin is given in the vein and doesn't get into your brain.
Second, the natural waves of oxytocin released in response to orgasm, nipple stimulation, or cervical stretching are very gentle and fade in and out. Even the lowest dose of pitocin, given in a bolus or a steady drip, affects the uterus in a different way, creating a different contraction. Pitocin's pattern of release is too harsh and allows poor rest between contractions.

And - to explain why a previous poster had heard pit can stop bleeding - if the uterus isn't exhausted pit can contract it, which can often help stop bleeding after birth. But if the uterus is exhausted as in uterine atony, which can result after a pitocin-induced labor, it can't contract - which is why it bleeds.

Very interesting explanation. Thank you for that. I do appreciate it I also want to add on to what you said in regards to "Pitocin's pattern of release is too harsh and allows poor rest between contractions". I was having (no I'm not exaggerating) contractions 30 seconds apart at only 4 cms. I just KNEW it couldn't be natural! When they backed it off a little, it was 2 minutes apart until I got the epidural out of hysteria (I know, I'm upset at myself too. I freaked out.) Anyway, I'm glad I'm learning so much about pictocin. The more I learn, the more I am resolved to stay away from that crap. If my contractions "don't start" right away after my water breaks (if that happens again) I'm going to say, "Well let's just see what my body decides to do here".

I'm going on pitocin strike!

[mikayla's mama]

I've had one labor with and one without and I totally agree with you. Avoid that horrible stuff at all costs.

[amitymama]

Why don't they just use oxytocin then? That's what they use here in the UK, I've never heard of anyone being given Pitocin. I wonder why US hospitals use that instead, anybody know?

[alegna]

Originally Posted by amitymama

Why don't they just use oxytocin then? That's what they use here in the UK, I've never heard of anyone being given Pitocin. I wonder why US hospitals use that instead, anybody know?

I don't think there's a way to make or get oxytocin. I bet they use pitocin there too, just call it oxytocin.

-Angela

[AlexisT]

yeah, they also call it syntocinon. it's the means of giving it that causes the problems anyway, not chemical structure.

[Quindin]

Originally Posted by alegna

I don't think there's a way to make or get oxytocin. I bet they use pitocin there too, just call it oxytocin.

-Angela

I think that's right

[Celticqueen]

Originally Posted by polihaupt

I think that's right

Yeah I am inclined to believe it's just called different things in different places.

[amitymama]

Ah, okay. I feel so lied to now! They MWs here all call it oxytocin and I was led to believe that it was somehow more 'natural' then pitocin used in the US.

[Twinklefae]

Pitocin is the brand name, my doc refers to it as oxytocin.

[Celticqueen]

I just know for a fact that I'll never use the stuff AGAIN. IT'S A CURSE ON MANKIND.

After I gave birth, I wanted to strangle the next person that used the word "pitocin". Next birth, no pitocin. Not at all. And for all my births after it. I'm still so shocked that it abused my uterus into distress like that. The body is NOT supposed to have twice the amount of contractions it was meant to handle. : They were seriously bam bam bam. Seemed like no breaks at all.

And the contractions were not "leading up to a high point"...It was like giant stabs in my back, one after the other. No leading up, just shooting, shoot me now kind of pain. I knew for a fact it did not feel like something God would have designed my body to do.

I WAS aware that childbirth is painful, I realize that so don't get me wrong. But not those kind of contractions. Everything I read about childbirth before I did it said that oxytocin from our brains releases feel good hormones in between contractions. Not with pitocin...That stuff will give your uterus far more than it was designed for.

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by Mommyofwills

I just know for a fact that I'll never use the stuff AGAIN. IT'S A CURSE ON MANKIND.

: Pitocin is horrific.

[Celticqueen]

Originally Posted by rmzbm

: Pitocin is horrific.

I'm glad you agree I truly believe that our bodies are not supposed to have pitocin and I hope that women can learn from my testimony of what happened. It IS horrific. That's a good word to use. It puts the body in more pain than it needs to be in, and it can cause uncontrollable bleeding. What more reasons does one need to NOT have it?