Curious about pitocin contractions vs. natural contractions

ghaber

OK, with my DS I was 10 days overdue, they induced my labor by breaking water and trying pitocin.  I remember the contractions being horrible and pretty quickly on top of each other instead of in some sort of order.  Also, my epi didnt work on my left side, so my right side was nice and pain free but the left was on fire!  Eventually, I needed a c-section.

This time I am trying for a VBAC and I heard that natural contractions feel different than pitocin-induced ones.  If so, how are they different?  Since I never went into labor on my own, I am trying to get an idea on how I might feel and, at the hospital, when I should request the epi?  Thanks ladies.

pammi2003

I, too, was induced with my daughter and I clearly remember the contractions being so strong that I thought I was going to pass out from the pain. My epidural only worked for 30 minutes before it completely wore off.

I am hoping to labor naturally as much as I can at home.

I also wonder how contractions via induction differ from those in natural labor. Hoping the natural ones aren't as bad

sjgurl784

From what I understand (FTM here) that while natural contractions can very painful and uncomfortable, they are also timeable and you often get a break (a minute or two) in between each one.  Pitocin contractions are practically on top of each other without a break, and are usually much, much stronger and more painful than natural contractions. 

dvroxy

I've only had pitocin contractions with DD#1, but I honestly don't remember them being bad.  I did get an epidural fairly early on which helped with progression, but I was having back labor at 34 weeks, so I would take what I was having over the natural back labor ANY day!

mrs.kapow

sjgurl784:

From what I understand (FTM here) that while natural contractions can very painful and uncomfortable, they are also timeable and you often get a break (a minute or two) in between each one.  Pitocin contractions are practically on top of each other without a break, and are usually much, much stronger and more painful than natural contractions. 

You're talking best and worst scenarios here. Some natural contractions are terrible, long, and on top of each other while some women respond well to pitocin.

In theory, though, sjgurl is correct in that your body should be able to build upon natural contractions more slowly and pitocin contractions are just not natural and therefore harder for your body to accommodate. 

sjgurl784

mrs.kapow:

sjgurl784:

From what I understand (FTM here) that while natural contractions can very painful and uncomfortable, they are also timeable and you often get a break (a minute or two) in between each one.  Pitocin contractions are practically on top of each other without a break, and are usually much, much stronger and more painful than natural contractions. 

You're talking best and worst scenarios here. Some natural contractions are terrible, long, and on top of each other while some women respond well to pitocin.

In theory, though, sjgurl is correct in that your body should be able to build upon natural contractions more slowly and pitocin contractions are just not natural and therefore harder for your body to accommodate. 

Thanks, Mrs.Kapow! I'll readily admit that most of my info is from the "crunchier" aspect of childbirth as well as downright inexperience. 

gracie__r

I labored naturally with ODD and was induced with YDD.  I don't think they were much different, except there was more buildup with my natural contractions.  Getting the pitocin was like jumping in at hour four or five of my natural labor if that makes sense.

mest1215

For my first, i was in labor with pretty good contractions for about 10hrs before getting pitocin bc labor was not progressing enough and my water had already broke. The difference for me, was with normal natural contractions, each one just got a little worse, so it was a slow progression of pain/contractions. Once the pitocin went in...BAM, the contractions were much more faster, stronger, harder to get through in a matter of seconds, and each one was signficantly worse than the one before..it was like being hit by a "contraction" truck. If you can do it w/o it, i would...but thts just M.O. based upon my experience (im sure many others are different/unique). 

AprilAngie

I was induced with cervadil with my 2nd child.  I had a sunny side 9:2 baby the 1st time w/ forcepts and it was NOT worse than when I was induced.  p.s. I have given birth 3 X already now and I still say this. 

 

when you are induced your body naturally doesn't adjust its just bang on YOUR IN LABOUR. Just my experience.

 

RockyMtnMama

I only had pitocin for a little while (and no pain meds), but it was different in that the pitocin contractions, for me, we're all on or all off.  So for one contraction it was like going from 0-100 in miliseconds with pitocin, then lasted about a minute and went back to 0 from 100 in miliseconds.  But the natural contractions built from mild to strong so 0-100 took about 30-seconds and the 100-0 took about 30-seconds. 

Does that make any sense to anyone else?

ufmelissa

I'm most likely going to have to get induced next week and when I told my OB I was scared about pitocin, he said that a lot of women who have pit after being in natural labor notice a major difference because they are so much more intense.  But since I was planning on having an epi anyway, he thought the pain could be managed pretty well. Of course that's assuming the epi works...eek, yet another thing to worry about!

minky

My first labor was natural, my second was induced. I got the epi at 7 cm the first time,but was never in terrible pain (I just got tired after 20'hours of labor). My induction wasn't too different until they  pumped up the pitocin and I suddenly went from 3cm to 10c in a matter of minutes, contractions right on top of each other. I was in so much pain the nurse was panicking for the anesthesiologist to come and administer the epi. Granted, I was in transition which I missed with my first labor. Im sure it wouldn't have been as bad if I had the epi in time but natural contractions were definitely easier. I may need another induction, and if so I will just make sure to get the epi early this time.