Pitocin AFTER birth???

ChristyD6 · May 2013

I've already ran this by a few bumpies and I know I'm going to have a lovely discussion with my OB next week but I thought I'd share what I learned this week at baby school.

My hospital routinely gives you pitocin after delivery to assist with delivering the placenta. I am trying to go as med free as possible so this shocked me.

Does this happen at your hospital? BTDT, did you get pit after delivery? Was it bad? Necessary?

megandchase · May 2013

I'm a FTM so no personal experience but my best friend just went through this after the birth if her son, she said it was awful and she would have rather gone through labor again... At least labor gave her something to look forward to!

kgb-13 · May 2013

Mine often does, I hadn't heard about the placenta part, but used to help contact the uterus after birth. I haven't decided how I feel about it.

amypogg6 · May 2013

I did not get Pitocin at any point. I honestly don't even remember delivering my placenta. My DH said it didn't seem like a big effort or anything for me.

Western Diva · May 2013

I was induced with Pitocin last time so I'm assuming they just kept the dose going until I'd delivered the placenta. I don't even remember doing it...certainly didn't hurt at all. I think if it can help with blood loss and the uterus shrinking I wouldn't have a problem with it this time if I'm not induced.

RissNRuss · May 2013

kgb-13:
Mine often does, I hadn't heard about the placenta part, but used to help contact the uterus after birth. I haven't decided how I feel about it.

This- we were told pitocin is given to help the uterus contract after birth and prevent bleeding issues (at our birth class). We will be reviewing more with our doctor prior to delivery, and deciding a bit closer to EDD.

JANCANDANCE · May 2013

Western Diva:
I was induced with Pitocin last time so I'm assuming they just kept the dose going until I'd delivered the placenta. I don't even remember doing it...certainly didn't hurt at all. I think if it can help with blood loss and the uterus shrinking I wouldn't have a problem with it this time if I'm not induced.

Exactly this. But I'm sure you can just decline.

ChristyD6 · May 2013

Ok, good to know it's not some crazy uncommon thing. I just had no clue, and I thought I was getting pretty baby smart from all my time bumping!

heavenpaige · May 2013

This is no 3 for us and I've never been given anything to help. It's always came out just fine.

AbbeyGirlBride · May 2013

Dr just mentioned this to me at appt today. He said it was to prevent more bleeding (3/4ths liter?) and birth class said it was to get the uterus to shrink down to normal size faster.

Not sure how I feel about it either.

jynxxy · May 2013

Doesn't immediate breast freeding help with placenta delivery? My hypnobirthing coach talked to us about it, and tells me it's reasonable to request up to 30 minutes wait for natural delivery of placenta unless needing medical intervention.

lilsinginfish2 · May 2013

I asked my midwife if it was necessary or not. She said there have been numerous studies in Africa that show pitocin to deliver the placenta helped remove ALL of the placenta so it doesn't leave behind any extra bits and reduces the risk of hemorrhaging. Hope that helps!

PinkPuffyHeart2 · May 2013

I was also told in labor class that we would get pictocin after birth to help prevent hemorrhage. If I have the natural birth I hope to have, I think I may refuse it... But if I am induced as I may be... then there's obviously no point in saying no...

LaBellaVida · May 2013

DS1 I was induced, and right after baby came out two nurses put their fists in my belly and "kneaded" my belly to make the placenta come out. It hurt like a mofo! I even had the epidural and felt it.

DS2 I went into labor on my own, and didn't get Pitocin after I had him. my midwife put him on my chest and walked out the room. She didn't even cut the cord. I nursed my baby, and about 30 or so minutes (maybe longer) she came back in and told me to push again...and I delivered my placenta. Then she cut the cord, and took baby to clean him off and weigh him.

This baby I was told by my OB that they routinely give Pitocin after baby to help deliver your placenta. The closer I get to my due date I am going to ask her to not do that, and to let it try and come on it's own, and if it doesn't then maybe give me some Pitocin to help it along.

I just figure, if you nurse right away, it contracts your ute anyway- so that alone should help your placenta detach and come to the front door anyway- ya know?

FordFalcor · May 2013

I had to have pit after a med free delivery for excessive bleeding. My uterus wasn't contracting fast enough. I don't have anything to compare it to, but oh man it made the afterbirth pains INTENSE.

PinkPuffyHeart2 · May 2013

brandilc84:
DS1 I was induced, and right after baby came out two nurses put their fists in my belly and "kneaded" my belly to make the placenta come out. It hurt like a mofo! I even had the epidural and felt it. DS2 I went into labor on my own, and didn't get Pitocin after I had him. my midwife put him on my chest and walked out the room. She didn't even cut the cord. I nursed my baby, and about 30 or so minutes maybe longer she came back in and told me to push again...and I delivered my placenta. Then she cut the cord, and took baby to clean him off and weigh him. This baby I was told by my OB that they routinely give Pitocin after baby to help deliver your placenta. The closer I get to my due date I am going to ask her to not do that, and to let it try and come on it's own, and if it doesn't then maybe give me some Pitocin to help it along. I just figure, if you nurse right away, it contracts your ute anyway so that alone should help your placenta detach and come to the front door anyway ya know? nbsp;

Oy... I like your 2nd story better... I don't want anyone pushing on my belly after birth...

hannahg · May 2013

I had pit after delivery. I was a little annoyed that I hadn't been told in advance it would happen but it seemed like no big deal at that point.

ilovemarfa · May 2013

I was induced and they continued the pitocin after birth. They actually continued it several hours after I delivered because apparently I had a lot of blood loss and they wanted my uterus to shrink quickly.

notquiteblushing · May 2013

Spontaneous delivery of the placenta is in my birth plan for a number of reasons, but Pitocin will be used if it's necessary. It is not routine in my OB's practice.

courty625 · May 2013

I vaguely remember something about this in my class. I have it on my list to ask next week and I'm going to go back through my paperwork.

needanustart · May 2013

I had a csection and they told me in advance that they would give me pit after the baby was out to help the uterus contract.

TriciaandSean · May 2013

I barely even remember delivering the placenta, I just remember seeing it and laughing at it because it was so nasty looking. I don't remember there being any pain or discomfort waiting or delivery it.

ssemovsk · May 2013

Many times you aren't told what is put in your IV. That is why I am opting to not have one unless I become dehydrated and need it

skinamarinkadinkado2 · May 2013

my hospital does it to regulate bleeding post delivery and to help expel the placenta.

Mommy2CB · May 2013

I had this! I remember the placenta came out very quickly and was just a strong cramp.

emolm · May 2013

My OB is super crunchy but does pit routinely and feels pretty strongly about it. We talked about it and, because I feel very strongly about not getting it unless necessary, he's agreed to skip it unless I need it.

He has also approved my total rejection of an iv and hep lock and just told me to expect a jab in the thigh with minimal warning and that's fine by me.

ETA He's in favor of routine pitocin bc he likes to avoid any hemorrhaging. My mom actually hemorrhaged badly enough with me that she needed a blood transfusion so, yeah, I'm not going to argue too much about pit being used for that and I'm glad to have a dr who says that's why he uses it routinely. If he'd said he uses it to speed up the delivery of the placenta, he prob wouldn't be my OB any longer...

Manderlin923 · May 2013

As someone who had a completely med-free labor & delivery last time and had a mild hemorrhage that required transfer to a hospital and being put under GA due to clots not coming out, I will definitely be requesting Pitocin post birth this time to me the risks of having it are way lower than not having it.

And I was pit by my MW at the birth center as well as cytotec to help my uterus contract after the bleeding started, before we even transferred and I don't remember it being painful.

GraceInCA · May 2013

This issue was studied - active management vs. expectant management immediately following delivery. In those cases where pitocin was administered, there were better outcomes overall (less hemorrhage, less medication needed later). I'm not in favor of being given pitocin during labor, especially in light of the report that was just published showing it could be bad for the baby, but I'm open to getting it immediately after delivering.

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