Pitocin After Delivery

Virginia129 · April 2013

I'm curious what unmedicated mamas are thinking with regard to pitocin after delivery (to stop possible hemorrhage). Obviously if it's medically necessary, I want it. But I'm going back and forth on whether to include it in my birth preferences. I don't want it to mess with my body's natural process and the hormones it releases post-birth. But I also don't want to put myself in any danger obviously. Anyone have any good resources on the subject?

tokenhoser · April 2013

I accepted the shot of pitocin.

I did some reading and just felt that the risks of taking it were outweighed by the potential benefit. At my hospital, it's standard procedure to give it to all mothers, so I just went with it. If their procedure

mrshall10210 · April 2013

I'm curious about this, too. I haven't decided how I feel about it. It's my understanding that pitocin affects breastfeeding, so I would assume it wouldn't matter whether you had it before or after labor. Obviously, if it's neces

tokenhoser · April 2013

You have to consider dosage, though. There is a big difference between an induction (a sustained dosage of pitocin over many hours) and one dose to prevent a hemorrhage. The post-birth dose is 10 units by injection or 10-40 units by IV. An induction

mrshall10210 · April 2013

tokenhoser:
You have to consider dosage, though. There is a big difference between an induction (a sustained dosage of p

abell77 · April 2013

I see no reason for pitocin to be given after delivery as a routine practice. If we trust our bodies to deliver a baby med free, why don't we also trust our bodies to birth our placentas med free as well? I think it should be given on a case b

sschwege · April 2013

My hospital does Pit on a case-by-case basis and I didn't need it either time. But I will say that if they did do it routinely I probably would not have declined. The most current research seems to support its use in the third stage.

StefandTodd · April 2013

I declined it with my hospital birth (where it is standard) and my midwife was supportive of it. She had a syringe for a shot in the leg if I seemed like I might need it even remotely.

I had a home birth for my second, and they don't do i

NerdyMama2 · April 2013

I accepted it as well.

CallMeAl · April 2013

I asked that I not receive it unless the bleeding wasn't controllable. I ended up not needing it, but the OB did ask if she could cath me really quick because my full bladder was causing heavier bleeding. I did agree, and it was no big deal. I found the a

Haley.Beth · April 2013

It's really not medically necessary for a normal delivery, most of the time. However, it's a wonderful tool if your doctor or midwife suspects you might be at risk of hemorrhaging for whatever reason.

My midwife does it only if necessary. I

nosoup4u · April 2013

Fine with it! I gladly accept drugs to make my body work better once the kid is out!

babyalex124 · April 2013

With my history of pp hemorrhaging, I was actually relieved that pitocin was offered as an option. I did not want to have to go through that again.

ClaireOtoms · April 2013

I accepted it and then found out that my midwife requires a bag of iv fluid with pitocin, even after delivery. The fluid caused my areolas to swell enough that DS was unable to latch for the first 24 hours. I have since learned that not all

aylafsu88 · April 2013

I wanted it but never got it. I figured the benefits of the shot far outweighed the risks. It was a busy night in delivery and my OB was rushing to different rooms. I had to wait for 30 mins for him to come back and stitch my tear.

pdilly2b · April 2013

I put in my preferences that I didn't want it unless necessary and ended up not needing it (hospital delivery with a midwife). They should be able to see if you are hemorrhaging and make the call as needed - it's not like the vitamin K shot for the bab

tokenhoser · April 2013

ClaireOtoms:
I accepted it and then found out that my midwife requires a bag of iv fluid with pitocin, even after delivery.&nb

robyn2201 · April 2013

In both my labors, I requested that they skip the Pitocin shot unless it was needed and I didn't need it either time. I just don't see the point in taking a medication if not nescessary. You just never know how your body will react. I recently rea

Virginia129 · April 2013

Thanks for all of the feedback! Everyone's experiences and preferences are really helpful in mulling this over.

botanicalbliss · April 2013

I was surprised to hear this was standard procedure even working with the MW group at my hospital. I had never heard of it before, so when my MW first mentioned it, I was like, "OK, I guess we can do that....", but I'm going to clarify next time I a

tokenhoser · April 2013

The reason it is standard procedure in some settings is that preventing a hemorrhage is easier than stopping one. A post-partum hemorrhage is a pretty serious complication. As an intervention, post-partum pit also has very, very few risks. As in, I cou

ClaireOtoms · April 2013

tokenhoser:
ClaireOtom

dosafyre · April 2013

I'd much rather have a small dose of pit, then someone else's blood injected into me. I saw no reason not to accept...and was glad I did with #2, as I bled pretty heavily after her birth.

nosoup4u · April 2013

botanicalbliss:
ke, "OK, I guess we can do that....", but I'm going to clarify next time I am there that no, I do not want it.

iris427 · April 2013

nosoup4u:
botanical

iris427 · April 2013

mrshall10210:
I'm curious about this, too. I haven't decided how I feel about it. It's my understanding that pitoc

nosoup4u · April 2013

iris427:
nosoup4u:</st

Stasi · April 2013

I hemorrhaged after giving birth. It's scary, I could feel the blood rushing out, I felt faint and I wanted medical intervention ASAP to make it stop...so, in my opinion I would do it. It was also hindering my ability to start working on BF my bab

Brewsbabymama · April 2013

Personnaly I will be refusing it completely. I used to have a pic of the doctors handbook that someone posted that referenced pitocin and how it enters the blood and therefor also breastmilk. I am just unwilling to pass it along even in small qu

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