Posted by My OB said WHAT?!?.
Feb
3
Posted by My OB said WHAT?!?.
“Pitocin Is The Most Natural Way To Give Birth.”
“Pitocin is the most natural way to give birth.” – OB to mother at 39 weeks, when the mother declined to be induced with Pitocin.
There are 50 comments to this post.
Yeah, it’s really sweet when you’re out hiking in the woods and you pass by a squirrel laboring in a tree, a tiny IV suspended from a slender branch, administering pitocin.
[Reply]
Jewels Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 4:48 pm (Quote)
Thanks Jane, now I have to clean tea off my computer!
(Note to self: always swallow before reading Jane’s comments)
[Reply]
Shanna-Kaye Fancher Reply:
February 4th, 2012 at 7:46 pm (Quote)
I just got myself and 3 people to laugh out loud at this thread 
[Reply]
So is an epidural right? As long as the baby comes out of the vag, it’s all natural huh doc?
[Reply]
So tell me, where do they grow pitocin? Can I find it in the organic section of my local farmer’s market?
[Reply]
Dawn R Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 4:13 pm (Quote)
And, furthermore where in the body is pitocin created?
[Reply]
Kristin Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 8:39 pm (Quote)
Oh wait! When MY body makes pitocin, it’s called oxytocin.
Doh! Doctor Stupid Head forgot his vocabulary lesson.
[Reply]
The Deranged Housewife Reply:
February 4th, 2012 at 4:19 am (Quote)
Nah, he’d probably tell her, “Oh, oxytocin – you mean the generic form of Pitocin. Yeah, it says that right on the bottle.” 
[Reply]
This one was mine. I planned to have a birth center birth but went to the hospital (accompanied by my midwife) in early labor because I was vomiting and my blood pressure was high. The OB didn’t want me to eat or drink anything (my midwife brought me water and snacks against his orders during my 6-hour hospital stay anyway) and wanted to put me on pitocin. It was very important to me to avoid a c-section, and I expressed my concern that pitocin would increase my risk of ending up with a c-section, which is when the OB said this gem. My husband and I looked at each other, laughed, and stated that we would be leaving against medical advice. I went on to birth naturally in the birth center the next day, eating and drinking all the while (even during pushing, which lasted 2 hours, almost 1.5 of which were spent with the baby crowning–my perineum would neither stretch nor tear, and I eventually received an episiotomy when his heartrate became a concern.)
[Reply]
Judith Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 10:15 pm (Quote)
Catherine, so glad for you all for sticking with your plans and so happy with your outcome!
[Reply]
Stephanie P Reply:
February 4th, 2012 at 4:35 am (Quote)
It’s always great to hear such a happy ending! My favourite part is that you did exactly what most of us would think to do after the fact: laugh in the OB’s face, then leave!
[Reply]
Larry had this to say,
Feb 4, 2012 @ 5:36 am (Quote)
@Catherine – when you presented at 39 weeks with vomiting and high blood pressure, it was reasonable for your OB to consider toxemia or pregnancy induced hypertension. The only “cure” for those conditions is delivery. If it got to the point of nausea and vomiting, one has to consider liver capsule distension from severe toxemia or even HELLP syndrome. These can lead to seizures and even death of the fetus and mother. So, the most “natural” way of augmenting labor for a “natural” vaginal delivery is with Pitocin Pitocin is a nanopeptide that is made by the pituitary gland. Things like Cytotec and Cervidil can also be used, but they are chemicals that are not “naturally” made by the human body. I also don’t think it was prudent to let your baby crown for 90 minutes. You yourself admitted it had a deleterious affect on the fetal heart rate which likely indicated the development of acidosis and hypoxia. A simple episiotomy immediately solved the problem, as it could have an hour earlier BEFORE there was an inkling of fetal distress. The point if delivering a baby is to have as healthy a baby as possible. The advise given by your OB was in keeping with her/his training to attain that goal. It really didn’t warrant the spewed liquid reactions from naive mouths and minds.
[Reply]
Kristy Reply:
February 4th, 2012 at 6:21 am (Quote)
The doctor didn’t say “pitocin is the most natural way to augment labor”… doc said it was the most natural way to give birth… which *is* laughable.
Advice that is “in keeping with his training” is not by default good advice.
[Reply]
Catherine Reply:
February 4th, 2012 at 6:45 am (Quote)
I’m well aware I had pregnancy induced hypertension. I had been dealing with it for weeks. My midwives augmented my labor in a number of ways even more natural than pitocin and I gave birth safely the next day. Walking out of the hospital with hypertension was not an easy decision, but it was the right one for me.
[Reply]
genniemom Reply:
February 4th, 2012 at 7:08 am (Quote)
Larry, I appreciate the fact that you are not trolling and that you have given an insight into a typical OBGYN thought process, but you seem to be missing the entire point. “Preventive medicine” may sometimes help, but it often causes more problems as well. Many of us simply wish to save interventions for when they are truly needed. Yes, the OP ended up with an episiotomy anyway, and yes, administering it earlier may have prevented the unreassuring heart tones, but both resulted in a healthy baby and healthy mom, so there is no need to shame her for her choices. I’m sure that electively removing your appendix would completely eliminate the possibility of appendicitis, but there are risks to having it removed as well, just as there are risks to having an episiotomy done. My first birth resulted in an episiotomy, which then tore all the way through my anus. Even the ones that don’t tear cause an immense amount of discomfort, as I’m sure you can imagine that a surgical cut throught the genitalia can do. It makes complete sense to anyone who treats both mother and baby that an intervention with definite injury to the mother need not be undertaken unless it is necessary.
OP- I’m so glad for you that your birth went well. I understand and agree with the decisions that you made, and I can imagine how difficult they were to make at the time. I hope everything continues to go well for you.
[Reply]
BeckyJ Reply:
February 4th, 2012 at 7:53 am (Quote)
Naive? Or women that don’t want to be misinformed and bullied by doctors?
[Reply]
Jane Reply:
February 4th, 2012 at 8:23 am (Quote)
Pitocin is a nanopeptide that is made by the pituitary gland.
Actually, oxytocin is a nanopeptide that is made by the pituitary gland. Pitocin is made by drug companies.
Oxytocin is released in small quantities, and it crosses the brain/blood barrier. Oxytocin helps your body release endorphins; pitocin prevents the endorphins, depriving the mother of natural pain relief. Oxytocin is released intermittently, but pitocin is released continuously through the IV.
I could go on, but the point is:
1) Doctor said pitocin is natural
2) Pitocin is not natural
3) Everyone knows this
4) Doctor was wrong
[Reply]
Jane Reply:
February 4th, 2012 at 9:54 am (Quote)
I want to add that once a doctor has lied to the patient once, it’s extremely hard to restore credibility. Even if there is a clearly established medical need, after the doctor lies, the patient will no longer believe the doctor is the best advocate for her health.
[Reply]
Dee Reply:
February 4th, 2012 at 12:11 pm (Quote)
Exactly, Jane, that’s what did it for me. The doctor presented things falsely–and I would have balked at anything else he/she said. Katy summed it up nicely as well. TALK to me like the well educated woman I am, not like someone who hasn’t done the research/reading. DO NOT treat all women exactly the same–some will want explanations, some will not–treat us as individuals, please.
[Reply]
Michelle Reply:
February 4th, 2012 at 7:25 pm (Quote)
This is a very important point. I was once hospitalized while pregnant due to DVT (that’s a blood clot in the leg). It’s a pretty serious condition, which could be fatal, and definitely merits prompt medical treatment. I ended up making the very difficult decision to walk out AMA, not because I did not want medical treatment or even because I did not agree with the proposed treatment, but because my doctor lied to my face repeatedly regarding my care and I no longer felt safe.
[Reply]
Katy Reply:
February 4th, 2012 at 9:46 am (Quote)
Larry, if the OB had said what you said then it would have been a helpful comment to a mother who needed to make an important decision. Instead the OB said some silly statement that didn’t actually make much sense and wasn’t helpful in deciding what was the best thing to do for mother and baby. That’s the whole point, stop being flippant and start talking to the patient.
[Reply]
abba12 Reply:
February 4th, 2012 at 9:21 pm (Quote)
Pitocin is the most natural way to give birth – Wrong.
Pitocin is the most natural way to help labor along, and we need to help this labor along for the safety of yourself and your baby – Potentially right, and at the very least not a completely stupid comment.
I have no issue with pitocin in certain situations, I had an induced labor myself. But to call it the most natural way of birthing is about the same as saying crutches are the most natural way of walking.
I’m going to guess you are a medical professional of some description, so could I suggest that, if you are truly interested in this topic, you do a bit of research on the effects of pitocin induction. There is a BIG difference between how the body reacts to pitocin and how the body reacts to oxytocin. Oxytocin is a natural chemical, but pitocin is not, and the body does not react the same way.
As for the episiotomy, I suffered terrible tearing because of doctors that said my baby was in danger and I had to push it out NOW, when I wasn’t ready. I don’t think there’s a need to rush it, 20 minutes of pushing is not nececarily the norm, just the ‘norm’ that people expect today. In the same token though, I personally may have agreed to the episiotomy a little earlier than 90 minutes in, so perhaps you have a point. However the issue, again, is not the intervention, it’s the use of the intervention as routine, making it seem normal and ‘natural’ when, in fact, it is an augmentation. I have no issue with getting an episiotomy if it’s needed, but it has to be NEEDED, not just ‘you’ve been pushing for 5 minutes, time to cut you’.
[Reply]
Darsy Reply:
February 5th, 2012 at 10:46 am (Quote)
I think you’re in the wrong place. Don’t worry, we won’t miss you if you decide not to bother coming back!
On a more reasonable note, I’d like to point out that the statement ‘pitocin is a natural way to labor’ is incorrect no matter what the context is. Adding context only makes the doctor look ignorant. Stating it ‘at this point, for the most natural birth I can offer you, pitocin is your best bet’ would be more accurate and doesn’t let the patient think the doctor has somehow paid his or her way through medical school without learning anything.
Getting defensive and attacking others simply because you think you know what the situation was just serves to make you look foolish, to be honest, and I mean that as kindly as I can possibly be after being called ‘naive’ for knowing pitocin has nothing to do with a natural birth.
[Reply]
Serene Reply:
February 9th, 2012 at 6:02 am (Quote)
“a simple episiotomy solved the problem”
This is OT, but If you EVER utter those words to ANYONE, my foot will meet your face. A “simple episiotomy” resulted in 57 perianal stitches, 4 YEARS of pain, reconstructive surgery ON MY VAGINA, and 12 years later I STILL have pain. A SIMPLE episiotomy is ONLY necessary during foetal distress, NEVER BEFORE! And you can quote me all you like, because I DO know my stuff, I CAN back it up with research, and Im a Nurse. And unlike the cock of a doctor who cut me against my will, I do not believe that “its meant to tear anyway, so I may as well help it along”. I swear if I ever find out who you are I WILL report you to the medical board for those words! Your type of attitude has cost me YEARS of intimacy with my husband!
[Reply]
Larry had this to say,
Feb 5, 2012 @ 4:48 am (Quote)
@Catherine and others. Please understand that the compound called “Pitocin” or “oxytocin” refers to a nonapeptide that is a sequence of 9 amino acids in a chain. The sequence was determined in 1953 and it was soon manufactured. Previously, it was obtained as a pituitary extract from animals that had contamination with a similar nonapeptide called ADH – antidiuretic hormone. Y’all make a very good point – the IV route is not “natural” and may well interfere with the natural pulsating secretion of oxytocin from the mother’s pituitary that has effects on endorphins and breast feeding as well as labor contractions. Point well taken. @Catherine- What were the other measures taken by your midwives that were “more natural” than Pitocin? Nipple stimulation has been known to induce contractions. If plant herbs were used, I wonder how they could be called “natural” because they don’t occur naturally in mammals. Moreover, ingesting it by the GI route is not all that different from an IV route. Pitocin could be given sublingually- under the tongue- but it is dangerous to do it that way re: hyperbolic contractions. Moreover, are herbal agents proven to be safe and efficacious by evidence-based science? It seems when an OB wants to do an intervention there is a hue and cry for “evidence-based medicine” but when a midwife wants to pull out eye of newt or some ancient Chinese herb, there is not a peep.
[Reply]
Abby Reply:
February 5th, 2012 at 6:35 pm (Quote)
Actually, I won’t take the time to argue you, as your words are dripping with disdain and more than a healthy dose of condescension.
The simple fact of the matter is, that yes, there are herbals which are safe (when used with discretion… as *any* medication should be), effective and come with few to no side effects.
Sadly, state side, we do not have much use for something which is cost effective (patient health included in cost assessment), where would the pocket padding come from if we did that?
Side note; there are *many* good ways, aside from nipple stimulation to get a slow labor to progress, or kickstart all together. Without “eye of newt”
Something you *might* be more familiar with if you drifted down from your pedestal to see how it’s done.
[Reply]
Details Reply:
February 6th, 2012 at 11:03 am (Quote)
But you have failed to find this doctor guilty of lying to his patient and creating a hostile birth envirnoment. I have abosultely no problem with what you wrote in your first post about it being the most natural of the avaliable drugs. I have a huge probem with your letting this comment pass without pointing out that if doctors had dealt with the issues of pitocin increasing the risk of c-section honestly and directly he would not have broken the patients trust. Labeling something “natural” because the mother seems to be “into natural” is not the correct way to have an evidence-based conversation. Personally I can’t picture myself walking out under those condidtions, but I would damn sure get a new doctor after that comment.
[Reply]
Details Reply:
February 10th, 2012 at 7:14 am (Quote)
Larry, if you aren’t a jerk you need to come back here and say, “Gee, I completely missed the fact that the jerk shoved the ‘product’ in someone’s face without gaining consent. That is clearly unforgivable. Of course your Mum was upset. No one should be treated that way!” Or you can be a jerk and ignore the point of the post completely.
[Reply]
This reminds me of a comment a nurse made to me during labor. “Your body makes pitocin anyway. It’s no different.” Ummmm, noooo, it’s a SYNTHESIS of the oxytocin my body makes.
She also insisted that contractions with pit are no different than without them. DEFINITELY not true.
I couldn’t stand that nurse… Since my labor started with my water breaking and I had made very little progress dilating, the clock was ticking on when they’d start to push for a C-section. While I was facing the decision of pitocin or no pitocin (yet), I started crying. She acted BAFFLED by my tears and acted like, duh, there’s barely even a DECISION to make. BS. That’s a huge decision, and I was making it while stressed and sleep deprived. Do other mothers really never cry under the stress of labor?
I wound up accepting the pitocin, still hardly progressing, and still getting a C-section shortly before the 24 hour post-water-break “deadline.”
[Reply]
JoMarch had this to say,
May 5, 2012 @ 8:51 pm (Quote)
The bottom line is not whether pitocin is “natural”, because it’s chemical compound is nearly identical. Rather, contrast the natural chain of released hormones.
A poor analogy would be the difference between adrenaline released internally in proper progression as a situation became dangerous versus being jumped from behind with an epi-pen.
The first scenario involves multiple hormones working in concert along with mind and emotions. The second scenario is much more harsh because it shocks the the system and ambushes the mind and emotions, which further inhibits subconscious labor processes.
[Reply]
Add Your Comment.
Previous Post
« “…You Don’t Have Enough Milk. You’re Too Small.” Next Post
“…Don’t Tell Me You’re Going To Start Crying Too…?” »
« “…You Don’t Have Enough Milk. You’re Too Small.” Next Post
“…Don’t Tell Me You’re Going To Start Crying Too…?” »
*looks OB carefully in the eye*
*ponders suggestion with thoughtful finger on lips*
“No…no, doc, that makes absolutely no sense.”
If anything, this is just one more reason for me to despise the term “natural birth.” As a writer and lover of language, I think that words should have some meaning, and the word “natural” no longer means anything when we’re talking about childbirth.
[Reply]
Jespren Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 4:16 pm Jespren(Quote)
Yeah, I prefer ‘physiological birth’, which just means whatever is physiologically needed for my body to give birth.
[Reply]