Wondering Wednesday: Does Pitocin Make Pressure Waves Stronger?

This is part of my Wondering About Series. Feel free to e-mail any questions you are wondering about to sheridan AT enjoybirth DOT com.

My question is in regards to Pitocin. I want the truth, preferably from a mom who has experienced both types of labors- induced and spontaneous.

With my first son, I was induced at 41 weeks, 4 days (not by choice, but my midwives threatened they wouldn’t be able to deliver me and I would have to have the random on-call OB, what’s a girl to do?). I was on Pitocin for 5 hours before I got the epidural and it was torture. The pain was so intense, I really did think I was dying. The contractions didn’t build up, they seemed to peak instantly and then hold it for 60 seconds before relaxing, but never all the way.

I tried everything (walking, massage, birth ball, tub) but everytime I relaxed and got comfortable the contractions would slow down, and they would increase the pitocin. I really, really wanted a natural birth and felt so much guilt over getting the epidural, especially after all the midwives in the practice promised me that pitocin labor is the same as spontaneous labor and they have seen plenty of women do it without the epidural.

But other sources I have read promise that it is different. I am pregnant again and would really like a natural birth this time, but I’m worried I won’t be able to handle it and that it will hurt just as bad, even if I am not induced. I really feel like a failure.

What do you think? Is there really a difference between induced labor and spontaneous labor or am I just a huge wimp?

I am sorry your first birth did not go the way you had hoped.  I would like to add please do not feel bad that you got an epidural.  You made the best choice for you in the situation you were in.  So that is ok!

especially after all the midwives in the practice promised me that pitocin labor is the same as spontaneous labor and they have seen plenty of women do it without the epidural.

I would like to say that in the births I have attended as a doula that pitocin induced labor is different than naturally starting birthing times.    You can see my doula stats here and see that the moms I have worked with that get pitocin are more likely to choose an epidural than moms without any pitocin.

From my observations it seems like Pitocin Pressure Waves are like Transformation Pressure Waves.  Longer, stronger and closer together.  So instead of 15-60 minutes of transformations, it can be hours and hours of them.  Now, not all moms experience it like this, but many do.

One way to help prevent it to be so strong so quickly is to turn up the pitocin very slowly (2ml every 30 minutes to an hour) and then stop turning it up once they have a good pattern.  It isn’t a race to get the baby out.  If it takes 12 hours but mom and baby are managing things well, that is preferable then 6 hours and mom not managing well.

So from my experience, yes they can be different!   So with your next birth remember this is a new baby and a new birth.  Your birthing time will start on it’s own and you can go un-medicated if you want.