Pitocin and no drugs?

Question

I'm having my First child and i have To be induced tommrow Friday Jan 5th early in the morning, I'm being induced with Pitocin, I hear that it is the worst with Contractions, I'm determined to use no Medications with the pain is there anyone who did this and were ok, all i hear is horror storys about being induced with pitocin and is there any advice they can give me, I am so nervous and Scared. please help....

Answer 1

Please know this - every labor and birth is different. Just because it goes one way for one person (or many) doesn't mean it will necessarily end up that way for you.
But that said...I'm an OB nurse and I've also given birth to several kids. I've had natural childbirth with no meds whatsoever (a beautiful homebirth with midwives) and I've had an induction with Pitocin (a hospital birth, of course). From my experience during my own births and as a nurse, the majority of women who get induced with Pitocin must get an epidural to deal with the pain. I'm guessing it's like 99.5% of those patients. It *rarely* happens that a woman gives birth without any epidural or narcotics while getting Pitocin.
That's the way it went for me, too.
Now I have seen plenty of labors start on their own and then get augmented with Pitocin at around 6 or 7cm and still have an unmedicated birth.
I just want to be honest and upfront with you. I understand you're scared. But don't swell too much on other peoples horror stories. You may sail through labor without anything more than menstrual type cramps (I've seen that happen before). And think of the pain of birth as "healthy, productive" type pain. It's really the only type of pain the body experiences
without disease or injury. You'll have a lovely baby when it's all over. And fear only makes pain worse. But in my years of nursing, most people require an epidural with Pitcoin.
Try to go unmedicated if that is your desire but please don't feel guilty if you need the epidural or other medication. And don't forget your relaxation and breathing. Back rubs are sometimes nice during labor. Gravity works wonders with contractions if you have a progressive enough doctor who will let you get off your back to stand or squat with contractions.
Try not to worry. Get a good nights sleep tonight.
Enjoy your new baby tomorrow. Happy parenting!

Answer 2

I've had 4 children, 2 natural with pitocin (no epidural), 1 with an epidural vaginally and 1 c-section (2 weeks ago).

Try to keep an open mind to pain killers. I know first time around alot of moms want to go natural without pain killers such as an epidural. I have to tell you that the most enjoyable labors I have had have been with an epidural, especially getting it early in labor.

Experiencing every form of child birth there is, I definately would recommend keeping a very open mind to an epidural. An epidural will allow you to enjoy the labor. Don't get me wrong, I was able to go natural with Pitocin without pain killers, but the only person I proved anything to was myself. Epidurals don't hurt the baby and actually are nice to have in place, especially if an emergency arrises like my emergency c-section 2 weeks ago! Good Luck..you will do great, just keep your mind open to pain killers and take it contraction by contraction!

Answer 3

BOTH of my deliveries were with PITOCIN (I just could not start labor, and my body did not want to sustain the contractions) ... it wasn't bad at all. You will be checked in, hooked up to an IV, and the Pitocin will be put on a auto-feed device to start the process.

I would NOT disregard the use of the Epidural either -- because at the part of the process where you are ready to deliver ... (or are at the stage where you are almost fully dilated) ... it gets VERY Painful ... and the Epidural helped me as well .. to deal with the Delivery, and so I could concentrate on PUSHING ... while the Pitocin did what my body could not do on its own.

Answer 4

Sweetheart, Pitocin isn't THAT bad. Don't let people tell you things like that. I wasn't induced, but was given pitocin to help my labor progress faster. (It was awfully slow.)

The only reason people say it will hurt is because it brings contractions on a little faster and a little harder, and you have a little less time to gradually get up to that level.

Don't be determined to not take meds. An epidural can be beneficial. It helps you relax, and less pain for you means less stress on the baby. (I was told all this by my OB/GYN and the anathesiologist) Having an epi won't make one bit of difference, except help you! Will your child's preschool ask how your labor went? No. Will your child's college applications ask whether or not you had meds when you delivered him/her? No.

It may seem like a big deal now, but trust me, it won't matter to ANYONE if you had an epidural or not. So I say, hey, take the comfort. With a newborn, you'll need all the comfort you can get.

Good luck, and congratulations! And don't fret, tomorrow you get to meet your beautiful baby!! :o)

Answer 5

Pitocin sucks. It's not like natural labor. First baby, possibly long labor . . .you are not a failure if you use meds. Enjoy the birth of your child! I have 3 kids, first 2 induced with Pitocin. First one - 18 hours, went quickly after the epidural because I finally relaxed. Same with 2nd, only half the time. Good luck!

Answer 6

Some people have worse contractions with pitocin some do not, but do not if you are absolutely miserable then by all means have something for the pain and good luck ,

Answer 7

I did it for several (at least 10) hours, then wound up with an epi because I wound up needing a c-section.

it's no picnic, but I had good preparation and support. You can do it, too, just get through one contraction at a time. I hear the pushing is the hardest part, anyhow.

Just hang in there, and forgive yourself if you find you can't do it anymore and take the drugs. the most important thing is that you tried, and that you'll have your baby when it's all over.

: )

Answer 8

My first delivery was with pitocin and I planned no pain meds, but could not make it without an epi. Sorry I'm not of an encouragement.

Answer 9

i agree...i wanted to go natural but had pitocin and it was horrible. i had to get the epidural. it just makes the contractions come on so fast and hard you don't have time to get used to them.

Answer 10

It definately depends on how your body normally responds to medicine--Pit made me vomit violently almost immediately and the anti-nausea meds didn't work at all. It does make contractions stronger (that's how the med works)