Article: Adverse Effects of Pitocin in Newborns

AmyRI

Study Finds Adverse Effects of Pitocin in Newborns

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May 7, 2013

New Orleans, LA -- Induction and augmentation of labor with the hormone oxytocin may not be as safe for full-term newborns as previously believed, according to research presented today at the Annual Clinical Meeting of The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Researchers say this is the first study of its kind to present data on the adverse effects of Pitocin use on newborns. Given intravenously, Pitocin (a brand of oxytocin), is often used to start labor when a pregnant woman is overdue. It is also used to keep a lagging labor going by increasing the frequency, duration, and intensity of uterine contractions. Primary Investigator Michael S. Tsimis, MD, and fellow researchers at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, conducted a retrospective analysis of deliveries that were induced or augmented with oxytocin. The study included more than 3,000 women delivering full-term infants from 2009 to 2011. The researchers used the Adverse Outcome Index, one of several tools used to measure unexpected outcomes in the perinatal setting and to track obstetric illness and death rates. ?As a community of practitioners, we know the adverse effects of Pitocin from the maternal side,? Dr. Tsimis said, ?but much less so from the neonatal side. These results suggest that Pitocin use is associated with adverse effects on neonatal outcomes. It underscores the importance of using valid medical indications when Pitocin is used.? Researchers found that induction and augmentation of labor with oxytocin was an independent risk factor for unexpected admission to the NICU lasting more than 24 hours for full-term infants. Augmentation also correlated with Apgar scores of fewer than seven at five minutes. The Apgar is a test that evaluates a newborn?s physical condition at one and five minutes after birth based on appearance (skin coloration), pulse (heart rate), grimace response (medically known as ?reflex irritability?), activity and muscle tone, and respiration (breathing rate and effort). A baby who scores eight and above is generally considered to be in good health. The analysis suggests that oxytocin use may not be as safe as once thought and that proper indications for its use should be documented for further study. ?However, we don?t want to discourage the use of Pitocin, but simply want a more systematic and conscientious approach to the indications for its use,? Dr. Tsimis said. *Tuesday Poster #74: Oxytocin Usage for Labor Induction or Augmentation and Adverse Neonatal Outcomes

tokenhoser

That's kind of terrifying considering how many women receive pitocin in labour. How can they just now be saying "oh, right, the baby gets it too!"?

Hyaline

It makes me wonder if the adverse effects are due to the chemical in the system, or whether they're due to perhaps ramping up contractions to a point that puts too much strain on the baby. I hope this opens the door to further research!

AmyRI

More fuel to the "no unnecessary inductions" fire, and hopefully it will lead to a decrease in the use of pitocin to speed up labor when natural plateaus in dilation occur. I'll be watching to see if they can figure out if it's a chemical issue that causes problems for the baby, or just the extreme contractions and faster labors that pitocin causes that harm them.