Pitocin is a synthetic hormone that mimics the natural hormone “oxytocin”. Oxytocin plays a large role in childbirth, as the body of a woman releases a large amount of it during and after childbirth and childbirth. Pitocin can be used to increase this process and speed up the process of natural labor. It can also be used to help the mother force out the placenta or get its breast milk, as well as the normal functions of oxytocin. The use of Pitocin has become commonplace in the delivery room and is seriously considered a safe medicine, but complications such as traumatic brain injury and cerebral palsy in newborn babies have been associated with its use. Expected parents should examine the associated risks and discuss the use of Pitocin with their doctor before starting work.
ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) supports the use of Pitocin "to induce work to work when a woman has reached the 39th week of pregnancy, and her cervix has matured." Not all doctors support liberal drug use and choose only certain conditions for detention.
Pitocin is often used if a woman approaches her 42nd week of gestation, if her water is broken, but the contractions are weak or absent, or if the labor process is slowed by the introduction of epidural anesthesia.
Pitocin is administered intravenously. The doctor will slowly increase the amount of pitocin flowing into the bloodstream until he feels that she is ready for childbirth. This artificial method of induction of labor does not always imitate the natural production of oxytocin in a woman’s body or the natural rhythm of labor. There may be complications.
The risk of Pitocina administration is increased if a woman has pre-existing conditions, such as: diabetes, high blood pressure, cervical cancer, genital herpes, heart disorders, uterine infections, more than 4 pregnancies, or if they have had common operations on their cervix or uterus . When a woman talks to her doctor during pregnancy, the woman should always be aware of her medical history.
With the introduction of Pitocina, the doctor must continue to monitor the fetal heartbeat. Artificially compressed contractions can be stronger and longer than natural ones. Blood flow to the uterus may decrease. This directly affects the fetus in that they receive all of their blood, oxygen and nutrients through the uterus and placenta. Since the woman’s body may not yet be ready for delivery, other complications may arise that may require the baby to be delivered in the case of a caesarean section.
Artificial stimulation of the work process can cause other problems for the mother, including: more intense pain from tetanic (very strong) contractions, separation of the placenta from the uterus, rupture of the uterus, cracking of the cervix, or hemorrhage during or after birth
Risks for an unborn baby can include: prematurity (if the term is not accurate), physical damage, neonatal hypoxia, or fetal asphyxia.
Pitocin has certain medical benefits, but mothers or their doctor will need to use an artificial hormone because of the convenience of reducing the labor process. Not allowing nature to go its own way, no matter how uncomfortable it may be, may put an unborn child at unnecessary risk.
One of the risks of misuse of Pitocin is cerebral palsy. Too much contraction or improper work can lead to complications that bring the fetus into trouble, leading to unnecessary, sometimes permanent brain injuries. Fetal suffocation or neonatal hypoxia can occur when the flow of blood and oxygen to the fetus is compromised. Other physical injuries may also occur, such as placental abruption and uterine rupture. All these complications are associated with the development of cerebral palsy, brain damage and infant death.
Long before the due date, all pregnant women should discuss birth scenarios with a doctor. Understanding the risks and benefits of Pitocin is an important part of this discussion. Before you get to the delivery room, it is easier for you to gather information and make an educated choice.
