Well, I could almost agree with this. Pitocin tends to make things painful.

And a smart OB would s.t.f.u.

Though the pitocin might make it rough, I did it without an epidural too. Yes, it sucked, but I feel like I made the right choice for myself and my baby. I hope the mommy who posted this got at least some of the birth experience she wanted.

Pitocin does tend to make things painful, but that doesn’t make someone less intelligent for not wanting to get an epidural. I know plenty of people who survived pitocin induction/augmentation with no drugs and they are all “smart girls.”

I’ve never had pitocin, but I wouldn’t object to a woman deciding to get one. It’s not a normal labor when it’s drug-induced like that. That said, she’s not stupid NOT to have one, either.

I dont think the point is whether or not she “should” get the epidural. Pitocin in HEINOUS and cruel. Ive been on both sides of that drip. I know. The point is that the “smart” WOMAN has already done enough research to know what she wants and can make informed choices based on changes in the landscape as she progresses, not based on the demeaning advice of someone who not only insults her intelligence but belittles her by referring to her as a “girl”.

Which proves my theory, based on a study that said “Poorer, less educated women are less likely to receive epidurals” that if you don’t want one, you’re considered stupid.

Unless the mother is convulsing and having chest pains right that moment, what would the harm be in limiting activity, increasing fluid intake and avoiding sodium, and perhaps BP meds (if they work)? I have a tendency for borderline pre-e in late pregnancy and thankfully/unfortunately can’t be induced because of 2 c/s, and I don’t know if there are other protocols besides immediately inducing.

I wonder – are there studies that look at the rate of c/s and/or failed induction among women with pre-e?

I don’t doubt that pitocin makes things much harder but a woman (not a girl) can make her own choices regarding pain relief. I even know someone who had a water birth with a pitocin induction. Epidurals are not the only option and a woman is not stupid for choosing not to have one.

People are amazed when they hear that I have two children and I have never had an epidural. Its not that amazing a thing. Billions of other women have done it before me.

A “smart OB-boy” would use Pitocin according to the package insert so that a woman who desires an unmedicated birth would not be so likely to have unbearable contractions!

Package insert says: OB’s in my area do:
Start drip at 0.5-1 microunit/min Start at 2
Increase drip every 30-60 min Increase every 15 min
6 mu/min mimics normal labor most women get over 12
most women don’t need over 10 most women get over 12, as high as 30

I’m pretty sure there was a recent study done that suggests that the c/s rate for people who are induced is 50%… Dismal

And a smart WOMAN would get a new medical professional.

Misinformation, manhandling and a patronizing attitude – all part of the OB experience for one low fee!!

I’ve had 3 births and the first and last were pit inductions, number two was induction with citotec. I’ve never had a epidural. First labor was 8.5 hours from start of pit to delivery, 2nd was 6 hours from citotec to delivery, 3rd was 2 hours from start of pit to delivery. All three labors I was at 3cm at start of induction. With both the 1st and 3rd they kept having to turn the pit down, so apparently it was started to high.

And what about that the Baby doesn’t recieve painkilling hormones after epidural is set?And what about the interference in the ‘Love-hormons cocktail’,No wonder a lot have problems with breastfeeding and don’t bond with their Babies from the start.Poor Babies having pain while being born,just cause moms think its more important that THEY DONT FEEL PAIN.

This was my sister’s comment I submitted for her with her permission. I was not able to attend this birth as I did her first. Background:Her first I kept her home as long as possible, changing positions, walking, massaging, water, popsicles, bathtub, etc. and didn’t go to the hospital until she felt “pushy” and she had the baby an hour later (unfortunately stuck in bed as soon as she got to the hospital, stuck to monitors, IV fluids, lithotomy, purple pushing, 2nd degree tear and shot of pitocin for the placenta because her hospital sucked, but her OB praised me for helping her through labor and staying home as long as possible) Second pregnancy/birth she ended up with a different OB, I went to one appointment with her and he sees she’s gained 9 lbs in 1 week, and she has slightly elevated blood pressure, and labels her pre-eclamptic. He scheduled her induction, but set it to after his vacation about a week later (so emergency? yea, I think not) I unfortunately was unable to attend and help her because I had to move. I am her ONLY labor support and the only one in the family who knows about and gives a care about normal birth, so needless to say no one advocated for her when she was made to stay in the bed on the monitors even though her OB said at the appointment she could get up. She was in agonizing pain and ended up giving in to an epidural, but thankfully the baby was born before the anesthesiologist could get there. So yes, probably a smart woman with no support team and forced to stay in the bed during L&D would get an epidural, but why not help these women, especially who have been through it before by not forcing them into the beds unnecessarily and encourage them to use alternate methods?