Cytotec use for labor induction term – complications? Safety?
is cytotec safe to use for term induction. oral vs vaginal. complications with hyperstim or complications with infant – short term or long term.
is cytotec safe to use for term induction. oral vs vaginal. complications with hyperstim or complications with infant – short term or long term.
March 17th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Cytotec can be a little risky. It can cause hyperstimulation of the uterus, which can stress the baby. It also has an increased risk of uterine rupture due to this hyperstim. It's a pill, so it dissolves in the vagina, which means there's no way to get it back. You just have to wait until the effects are gone, or give a shot to stop the contractions. The drug itself has no effects on the baby. Obviously if your uterus ruptures you can have major effects to the baby.Vaginal dosing is certainly more effective, however it's also a lot more dramatic. Tends to work pretty fast on an unfavorable cervix. Oral use isn't nearly as effective, or really very effective at all. It doesn't seem to cause the hyperstimulation.Cytotec shouldn't be used vaginally after the water is broken, so most docs tend to use this initially to get dilitation started, then after a few hours break the patient's water and start her on pitocin.I've seen this drug be very effective, and work really really fast. Like from no pain to a baby in less than thirty minutes. I would be sure to ask the doctor if a doctor will be in the hospital while this is going on. Most smaller hospitals do not keep an ob doc there all night routinely. Discuss the risk of uterine rupture, and the possible effects of this med on the baby with your doctor.
March 17th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Why are you being induced? I have read many negative things about cytotec, including uterine hemorrhage leading to hysterectomy, maternal death and even fetal death. Induction, in general, overrides your body's natural processes, and makes for a much more difficult delivery. For example, when you go into labor naturally, your body releases oxytocin – that makes your uterus contract, and causes the release of your natural pain-killers. If you are induced, your body doesn't release oxytocin, so you get no natural pain relief. Let the baby come when he or she is ready, and when your body is ready. Unless you have a really serious medical reason for induction, and being 4 or 5 days past dates doesn't count…