Question about Pitocin after delivery

chrisjsbride

Hello! So I'm usually over in the 3rd-tri boards but I am venturing over here to hopefully get a question answered. So I'm going to be a FTM and I really want to go through L/D as naturally as possible. Last night in my birthing class I had learned that most times (especially in the hospital where I am delivering at) mothers are given a shot of pitocin after delivery to contract the uterus to help the placenta detach faster, and unless you are absolutely adamant that you don't want it, they give it to you immediately after the baby has delivered. I know they use it as a precaution to make sure that you don't bleed out if your uterus isn't shrinking fast enough.  My question is, did any of you ladies receive the pitocin shot after you delivered? And if you did, did you have any side effects from it? And if you didn't, did your uterus still shrink pretty quickly and deliver the placenta in a timely fashion? Sorry if its a little confusing. TIA!

olivesmama

I had pitocin to augment my labor as my water broke and then I didn't have contractions.  After my delivery they gave me the rest of the pitocin through my IV as the hospital I delivered at gives the rest of the pitocin to women who receive pitocin in labor.  I had a long labor and was okay with getting the pitocin as they were worried about my uterus not ctxing properly d/t the long labor.  I felt crampy after birth pains and that was it. 

robyn2201

I requested to not have any Pitocin afterwards unless it really was needed and my OB was completely fine with it. I did not end up needing it and I delivered the placenta quite quickly. No issues what so ever.

KateLouise

I didn't have an opinion about pitocin after the delivery so didn't make any particular requests.

My midwife gave me the shot fairly quickly after delivery. I never asked, and I regret that, if it was just a precaution on her part or if she saw something she didn't like.

I didn't have any side effects from it. 

LindseyJW

i did not have pit after my vbac. there was no need for it. it wasn't an option for me, so it's not something that i thought about while pregnant. i can't imagine coming to the decision to take precautionary medication, though. i think i would want to wait and see if it was needed. otherwise, i'm going into labor questioning my body's ability to do what it is supposed to do naturally. that's putting a lot of doubt in my head right from the beginning. not how i'd want to start things off, KWIM?

StefandTodd

sweettalkin417:

I requested to not have any Pitocin afterwards unless it really was needed and my OB was completely fine with it. I did not end up needing it and I delivered the placenta quite quickly. No issues what so ever.

this is what happened to me, except my OB was adamant it was necessary, but a CNM delivered me and when my H requested they hold off and wait, she agreed. I didn't need it, tho they kept a syringe of it nearby to administer quickly if it became necessary.

julyjennifer

Birth # 1 - in hospital, unmedicated birth.  they proposed the shot of pitocin post-delivery, and I accepted.  I can't remember if there were particular reasons why it was advised in my case, but I felt I was given a chance to make an informed decision.  I didn't notice any side-effects.  I can't recall how long it was till my placenta was born...they may have even done the shot after the placenta. I nursed my DD (well, had her nose around and try anyway, can't remember how much she latched on that first time) probably within 10-20 min of the birth.

Birth # 2 - at home.  no pitocin.  placenta was born 30 minutes after the birth with no problems or concerns.  my uterus shrank down appropriately, according to the midwives.  No bleeding problems.  DS was nursing nicely 10 min after he was born and kept it up for awhile, so I'm sure that helped.

To me, I'd say it's a pretty minor intervention post-birth, but not something that you'll truly need all the time.  Skin to skin with your baby and letting them try to nurse or at least mosey around the breast will help a ton with your ute contracting.

BostonGayGal

I have multiple large fibroid tumors that are likely to hamper the contracting of the uterus post-delivery. My midwives asked me at my 32 week appt today how important it was to me to avoid the shot of pitocin. We agreed that she wouldn't give it automatically, but that she could give it at the first sign of a problem so that a bigger problem (bleed out, possible need for transfusion) could be avoided.

tokenhoser

I had the shot; even with it, my uterus was taking longer to contract than they liked (and yes, I was breastfeeding).

To me, it wasn't something I felt it was necessary to fight over. I looked at the research and felt that it was an appropriate thing to go along with. Plus, I think they would have decided I "needed" it anyway.

sschwege

I did not receive the shot, my CNMs did not do it routinely as far as I know.  I remember them massaging my uterus to get it to shrink and also BFing right away helps (although they wanted to monitor DD more closely so I wasn't able to BF for the first hour).  My uterus shrink pretty quickly on its own and the placenta came out fine.  I remember the following day my postpartum nurse came to check me and said she couldn't believe I had just had a baby because my uterus shrank down so quickly.  Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think drinking Red Rasberry Leaf tea during your third tri is also supposed to help, which is what I did.  

MiniMir

I had a med-free hospital birth with a CNM.  I recieved pitocin after birth with no ill effects to me or our LO.  Good luck to you!

Nechie122

I delivered the placenta almost immediately after giving birth, and my OB did not give me Pitocin. I had no problems recovering.

abell77

I don't think there is any reason for the routine administration of pitocin after delivery.  Our bodies were meant to do this, including delivering the placenta and the contracting of the uterus.  Why assume your body won't do what it's intended to do?  I had no pitocin at all with my first delivery and no problems.  Following my second birth, I delivered the placenta quickly but my midwife was concerned about how much I was still bleeding, so she recommended the pitocin shot and I agreed.  So I think it should be administered on a case by case basis and when the need arises.  Incidentally, the pitocin shot didn't solve my problem anyway.  It turned out my bladder was so full that it was pressing on my uterus and preventing it from contracting sufficiently.  Once she drained my bladder then everything proceeded as normal.

chrisjsbride

Thank you ladies your all of your input! I think I'm going to tell them that I only want it if I really need it.

sschwege:

I did not receive the shot, my CNMs did not do it routinely as far as I know.  I remember them massaging my uterus to get it to shrink and also BFing right away helps (although they wanted to monitor DD more closely so I wasn't able to BF for the first hour).  My uterus shrink pretty quickly on its own and the placenta came out fine.  I remember the following day my postpartum nurse came to check me and said she couldn't believe I had just had a baby because my uterus shrank down so quickly.  Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think drinking Red Rasberry Leaf tea during your third tri is also supposed to help, which is what I did.  

Ooh, and I have been drinking the red raspberry leaf tea as well. I hope it helps!