Cytotec

JJSunshine817

So I'm not scheduled to be induced but I asked my doctor today if you have someone coming in for an induction and you need to use a cervical ripening agent, what do you use? He said they only use cytotec. I asked if they would use cervadil and he said no just cytotec. Now I'm all freaked out. I've heard terrible things about this drug.

Im completely jumping the gun here because a) As of right now I don't need to be induced and b) even if I will be induced in 2 weeks (they only let patients get to 42 weeks), I might not even need a cervical ripening agent.

Can anyone help me explore my options here? If worst comes to worst do I have any other options? Or maybe Cytotec isnt AS bad as Im thinking it is...

snowybride08

What have you heard?  That's how they're doing my induction tomorrow, and I haven't heard anything at all about it.

hlecouix

I was induced with cytotec. It worked wonderfully for me as I was not dilated or effaced at all with my baby girl. I read the same things you did but in the end it was not a big deal. The hospital I had her at is one of the busiest in the country (sharp mary birch in san diego) and they use cytotec as their cervical ripening agent 90% of the time, which says a lot. I wouldn't worry! There is enough to worry about when having a baby. Ultimatley, your doc and hospital are not going to put u and your little one in danger. Best of luck!!

JJSunshine817

snowybride08:

What have you heard?  That's how they're doing my induction tomorrow, and I haven't heard anything at all about it.

I don't want to freak you out, I've just heard that this drug is controversial because its intended use is not to induce labor, it is used to treat peptic ulcers and has not been FDA approved for inducing labor. It even says on the labor not intended for pregnant women. It has been linked to uterine rupture, placental tears and fetal heart decelerations. While I know a lot of labors have been successfully induced with cytotec I've heard and read that this drug can lead to some scary complications. Again, I dont want to freak you out.

CrunchyMama

I was induced with cytotec (also known as misoprostol) and had no issues.

StellarStina26

I was induced with Cytotec and was freaked out just like you!  However, do you notice you can't find any articles or controversies since like 2001?  The use has gotten more regulated and doctor's are strict about monitoring.

I had two doses of it at 1pm and 5 pm.  Then they let me sleep after no progress, but contractions did start a little.  Water broke at 3am...  

JJSunshine817

StellarStina26:

I was induced with Cytotec and was freaked out just like you!  However, do you notice you can't find any articles or controversies since like 2001?  The use has gotten more regulated and doctor's are strict about monitoring.

I had two doses of it at 1pm and 5 pm.  Then they let me sleep after no progress, but contractions did start a little.  Water broke at 3am...  

Good to know! I I guess its still more common than I thought. I thought my hospital was like the only hospital willing to induce women with cytotec lol.

stahlop

I wouldn't use it, but that's just me.  I did a bunch of research on it and it freaked me out.  My Bradley instructor actually knows someone who lost their baby when using it.  I'm sure it's rare, but when there is a big picture of a pregnant women with the big no sign in the instructions, I'd rather err on the side of caution.  There is a reason the FDA has not approved it for cervical ripening.  I'd rather go with pitocin for induction if those were my options.

beeunit

I took cytotec.  It's supposed to be given every 4 hours for up to 12 hours, but after my first dose they stopped it because I was contracting too often.  I didn't feel the contractions though, so it wasn't bad.  They ended up giving me pitocin the following morning.

jayellekay

I had it. I was a fingertip dilated and maybe 40% effaced when I went in for induction. After 1 dose of Cytotec, I started having mild contractions and lost my mp and had bloody show. I got a second dose, but I think the nurse didn't put it in far enough, because it fell out when I wiped after going to the bathroom about 2 hours later. So, I like to say I had 1 1/2 doses of Cytotec to get labor going. And boy, did it get going! My induction started around 9:30 pm. By 1:00 a.m., I had mild contractions. By 4:00 a.m., I had what I would call moderate contractions, and by 6:00 a.m., I thought I was going to die. I didn't need any Pitocin or any other labor-stimulating drugs. My water broke at 10:02 and baby born at 10:43 a.m.!

ShansBride

I don't post much over here anymore, but I wanted to say that you couldn't pay me enough to be induced with cytotec (even if I hadn't had a previous c/s).  It is such a dangerous drug and I think you are right to be scared.  Your mama instinct is telling you something and you should go with that.

The makers of the drug have explicitly told doctors NOT to use it on pregnant women and not to use it to induce labor but they don't listen.  It has a picture of a pregnant lady with a big red X through it on the bottle for crying out loud!

If you don't want Cytotec, you have the right to refuse it.  I would ask the doctor why he uses cytotec over other drugs and why he won't use something else.  It is your body and your baby and you are in charge.

I think it is also really important to keep in mind that the doctor doesn't necessarily have your best interests at heart.  I know we all like to think that the doctor only does what is best for us, but that is not always the case.

I hope you don't end up being induced so this isn't a battle you have to fight!

EmandChris08

JJSunshine817:

snowybride08:

What have you heard?  That's how they're doing my induction tomorrow, and I haven't heard anything at all about it.

I don't want to freak you out, I've just heard that this drug is controversial because its intended use is not to induce labor, it is used to treat peptic ulcers and has not been FDA approved for inducing labor. It even says on the labor not intended for pregnant women. It has been linked to uterine rupture, placental tears and fetal heart decelerations. While I know a lot of labors have been successfully induced with cytotec I've heard and read that this drug can lead to some scary complications. Again, I dont want to freak you out.

This. Cytotech can work very well, but it can be dangerous. The company that manufactures warns AGAINST using it for starting labor... that should tell you something.

fuzzylamb

If you watch Pregnant in America (available on Netflix) you won't let them induce you with Cytotec. No effing way!!!

MissYouDietCoke

I had both.  1-12h dose of cervadil, and 2- 4h doses of cytotec. 

and then things got moving.  The cytotec was a lot more comfortable, the cervadil felt like a scratchy tampon. 

A37licia

This:

ShansBride:

I don't post much over here anymore, but I wanted to say that you couldn't pay me enough to be induced with cytotec (even if I hadn't had a previous c/s).  It is such a dangerous drug and I think you are right to be scared.  Your mama instinct is telling you something and you should go with that.

The makers of the drug have explicitly told doctors NOT to use it on pregnant women and not to use it to induce labor but they don't listen.  It has a picture of a pregnant lady with a big red X through it on the bottle for crying out loud!

If you don't want Cytotec, you have the right to refuse it.  I would ask the doctor why he uses cytotec over other drugs and why he won't use something else.  It is your body and your baby and you are in charge.

I think it is also really important to keep in mind that the doctor doesn't necessarily have your best interests at heart.  I know we all like to think that the doctor only does what is best for us, but that is not always the case.

I hope you don't end up being induced so this isn't a battle you have to fight!