Cervidil vs Patocin

Jones071507

For those of you who have had babies, any experience with either of these? I made up my mind that I do not want Patocin (unless medically necessary I.e. Mine or babies health at risk) but wondering about cervidil..? Does it do the same things during labor? Increase contraction pain or make it worse?

hitcj4687

I think these are more for being induced or to help move things along if your body is just not doing it. Sometimes, unless you want a c section, they are necessary

Jones071507

Yea my doc was talking about if I don't go on my own inducing next week and she mentioned cervidil. I don't want Patocin because of the stress it puts on baby and the way it makes your labor so much worse, but I'm just curious as to if cervidil cauEs those same things to happen. I guess just hoping I go on my own this weekend!

mrsb30

Cervedil softens/ripens the cervix and petocin starts contractions. From what I understand (not a medical professional just my birth experience) is some people can have the cervedil and then labor can progress naturally and then some people also need pitocin. They don't give pitocin unless the cervix is ready. I had 3 doses of cervotec(also ripens cervix) and then they started me on pitocin once my cervix was ripe enough. I had a long induction, but it was still a very good experience. Ends with 15 min of pain free pushing and a beautiful healthy baby girl. I hope that helps.

Eta: my contractions on cytotec were mild, it wasn't until the started pitocin that they picked up and got more painful. I was nervous about an epidural so I waited as long as possible. I was only able to make it to 4 cm dilated before I needed one, the pitocin contractions were close together and very painful to me. Getting the epi was the best thing ever and my labor progressed very quickly after I got it.

bpwife&mama

I had pitocin with both of my boys. With my first, my water broke at 1 cm and I can only imagine how long I would have been in labor for had I not been given pitocin. I more than likely could have ended up with a c-section. With this baby, I was induced due to high BP and was given pitocin because I wasn't in labor yet. Like the PP mentioned, I'm not sure cervidil will do what pitocin can.

acgonzalez22

Cervidil ripens the cervix. It is not like pitocin and does not bring on contractions. They are two very different medicines. If you are already dilated, you do not receive Cervidil. If you are contracting and progressing- maybe only low dose Pitocin is necessary. It depends on your body and it's preparedness really.

PixelPosy

As others have said they are often used together and they have different purposes. My doctor said most inductions end up with the mom on pitocin. Which sold me on not doing an elective induction. Which wasn't a hard sell, but I will admit I was toying with the idea when one of her colleagues offered to schedule it for me under the premise they'd break my water and make me walk laps and I would be on my way.

jlsweets

acgonzalez22 said:

Cervidil ripens the cervix. It is not like pitocin and does not bring on contractions. They are two very different medicines. If you are already dilated, you do not receive Cervidil. If you are contracting and progressing- maybe only low dose Pitocin is necessary. It depends on your body and it's preparedness really.

Exactly . I did 12 hrs of cervidil to ripen cervix. After it was finished I was 1cm dilated. They then started pitocin to start contractions. After only an hour they were able to see that my body was contracting on my own and they stopped the pitocin. I got to 8cm on my own but ended up having an emergency c section because of they baby's heart rate plummeting and not coming back up after a long attempt of trying everything and meconoim in water. I also had pitocin with my first and had a vaginal birth. While pitocin contractions suck I do not believe it leads to higher c section rates.

ashbasler

With my first baby I went in for cervidil, but they ended up not being able to give it to me bc I was having regular contractions. I still wasn't dilated, but they induced labor with pit icon anyway. Nothing still ever happened and I ended up with a csection. You can't plan everything. I'm learning that once again this time around.

Bailey1823A

L&D nurse weighing in. PPs are correct in the difference between the mediciations. If you are overdue and not forcing an induction, c/s rates are not higher with the use of pitocin during labor. Also contractions feel harder on pitocin because it gives your body and faster kick start since it is a medication that is titrated upward. Your body produces oxytocin which is the natural form of pitocin and some women just don't produce enough to progress labor. The pitocin speeds the process since the medication forces contractions maybe faster than the body would. Pitocin honestly in my opinion as an L&D RN for almost 4 years does not cause the baby distress. A baby is either going to tolerate labor or not no matter how labor is brought on. Also pitocin has a much shorter half life than the cervical ripening agents so it's actually safer in cases of distress because almost all babies recover from the distress within a few minutes because the intensity and frequency of contractions slow down. With the cervical ripening agents (cervidil cytotec gel) once it's inserted the body has to absorb it. Now the cervidil can be pulled out (like a tampon) but the medication is still being absorbed through the vagina. If you have any other questions regarding the medications I would have a talk with your dr or you can pm me. Unfortunately some people need the medications though to have their baby. Good luck momma.

louiseambrose

FYI (and @Bailey1823A can correct me if I'm wrong) almost everyone who delivers in the hospital will get pitocin after the baby is delivered to help quickly deliver the placenta. My OB (or maybe a nurse?) asked me if I was OK with that, but asked mid-pushing so I gave zero (unmedicated) f&ucks. So unless you very specifically object, you will almost certainly have SOME pitocin.

SLang2

In most Canadian hospitals they don't use Cervadil because of the potential side effects. While it is meant to rippen the cervix it can also cause too many contractions, or contractions right on top of each other which put stress on the baby and make labor very difficult.
My SIL was given Cervadil and had back to back contractions that built on each other, she ended in c-section.

I was given Pitocin while in labor, yes it brings on contractions but sometimes that is needed if yours are not strong enough or regular enough. It is given by IV so the dose can be adjusted up, down or stopped as needed. I personally haven't done any research on side effects so I can't speak to any concerns you may have. But I do know this drug is very standard practice in all North American hospitals.

Hopefully your body will do what it needs to and you won't need anything. Good luck!

Bailey1823A

@louiseambrose you are correct. Pitocin also clamps down the uterus to prevent excessive bleeding/hemorrhaging postpartum.

Jones071507

I'm not sure what they would use but she said she would want to start with cervidil. I was 2cm 75% effaced yesterday and she stripped my membranes so hoping maybe I won't have to be induced Rhanks for all the input ladies!!

somelittleone

I've had my experience with both. I went in the night before the induction day- first we did cervidil- (not a pleasant experience, due to nurse have to basically toss that so far up your V!) But once that's done nothing really bothers you. It just speeds up the process! By the time morning came and at 8AM my doc came in to see how everything is going- she ended up breaking my water within minutes!! Pitocin just a little "push" to move things along- it does quicken the contractions I believe, but they are not bad at all. Although- I think for me pitocin sped everything up so quick I went from pain rate 3 to 7! So I had to get that good epidural goodness ASAP! It was painful having the contractions at "7" and having the anesthesiologist put the med in your spine at the same time!! So if you do it- Id suggest you get the epidural as soon as you feel tiny pain! Don't wait!

taylorharber1108

My son did great while I was in labor. I was in labor for a little over 32 hours and had the pitocin drip for 24 hours. His heart rate never dropped indicating distress. Good luck!

sjra1028

I had both with my first. Neither worked in my case, but I was told this time around before my emergency c-section that I probably wouldn't dilate anyways due to past history. They're not too bad, but it sucks not being able to eat anything!!

jesselayne8

As @SLang2 mentioned, I was one of those people who had a bad reaction to cervadil. I had back to back contractions on top of each other and they basically had to stop my labor. It may have been the beginning of the cascade of interventions that led to my failure to progress and ultimately my csection. Like any drug there are risks. Plenty of people do fine with both cervadil and pitocin.

KallieAnne

I had pitocin (which I was initially terrified of). -Honestly not nearly as bad as everyone told me it would be. Made it all the way through without the epidural. Good luck with whatever it takes for your little one to arrive!

lauraf2187

I had both with my daughter. I was started on cervidal when I first went in for my induction. I progressed to a 5 before they started pitocin. I personally managed pretty well with both.