Questions about pictocin and about gift for nurses in hospital

15 years ago

Have any of you been induced with Pitocin, or know someone who has been? I'm being induced tomorrow or Friday, and I'm VERY nervous about it. I was really hoping to go into labour on my own, but it hasn't happened yet. The doctor wants to get Oliver out, though, because he's very big and because my palpitations are getting worse.

I don't like the idea of being pinned down to a bed throughout my whole labour. Also, I've read that being induced this way can cause a rougher labour? And that there is a higher risk for fetal distress?

What are your experiences?

And, I found a beautiful bouquet of mixed roses that I'd like to buy for the nurses when I leave the hospital - they've already been so wonderful in my experiences there. But I don't know if flowers are an okay gift in case of allergies? Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

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Comments (24)

girlsingardens
15 years ago
Nicole,

I was induced with pitocin with my first two babies. The only thing I can say is be prepared to go from no contractions to big ones right away but it does get things going and helps get that baby out. Funny, my due date is this Friday and Hudson will already be 3 weeks old. As to the nurses, I like to send a platter of cookies, order from local bakery, you will be so busy when that baby comes. It is easy for the nurses to grab a cookie and snack.

Best of luck, and I will be thinking of you,

Stacie
girlsingardens
alisande
15 years ago
I was given Pitocin with my first baby. I had gone into labor, but the doctor was in a hurry (big football game!), so he used the Pit. The contractions were powerful. I managed without drugs, but just barely. Part of that may have been that it was my first, though.

I would think (but I'm not sure) that they can adjust the amount of Pitocin to reduce any chance of fetal distress. I'd ask about it, anyway.

Best of luck to you.
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grammahony
15 years ago
I had Pitocin too. They may use it to just get you started. Like Stacie said, they are more intense.
I think one of those fruit bouquets are nice.
Leslie
nodakgal
15 years ago
DD was induced with Drew. She said it was fast and hard labor. A few hours (I think like 3?) This was DD's second birth.

Maddie's Mother was induced, do you remember all that? LOL I posted so many times about making the 3 hour trip and them being sent home without a baby!
She was induced not once but TWICE and it didn't work!! We all pictured that little girl hanging on in there and with her feet planted firmly saying nooooooo I don't wanna come out! LOL The third time was a charm,we had a baby! LOL
I am thinking they can vary the amount too, the only difference when Maddie was born was the Doc broke Mom's water, he said there is NO way we are not having a baby today! LOL Mom went in by 7 am. Maddie was born about 7:30 pm.
So I think its an individual thing?
marilyn_c
15 years ago
I had it also. My baby had had a bowel movement inside of me and when the water broke, it was green...so that was a bad sign. After 18 hours, I still didn't dialate and had a c section. The labor was very intense...they couldn't seem to regulate the contractions and one would over ride the next. In other words, I was getting almost no break between them. When they decided to stop the pitocin (5 a.m.) and wait until my doctor came at noon to do the c section, the contractions immediately stopped except for some so mild they were almost like minor menstrual cramps. I was worn out.

I was 34...my first baby. I did well...la maze...no drugs, but I was so glad when they said c section. The nurses said I would be sorry the next day. I decided I'd show them.
I never complained, I never took a pain pill and I got up 9 times that next day and walked to the nursery. I had the c section at noon and they kept me flat on my back until 7 the next morning. They were freaking out because I refused the pain pills...worried what my doctor would say. I didn't have any pain. I was extremely sore, but no pain, as in...lay still and hurt. I also stood straight tall. Ran into a former school mate, all bent over, holding a pillow in front of her. She said she had to get back to bed, she had a tubal the day before. I said, "I know how you feel, I had a c section." :))
linda_in_iowa
15 years ago
Nurses would prefer cookies to flowers. That is so nice of you to think of them. My mom was demanding, so every time she was hospitalized I brought 3 boxes of chocolates for the nurses.
jannie
15 years ago
What a good reminder, I want to send cookies for Thanksgiving to all the nurses and technicians at my Dialysis Unit.
cherbo
15 years ago
The timing of this question hits home. 27 years ago yesterday(11th) I was at my doctors appointment very overdue with my first son. His due date had been on Halloween, which had come and gone two weeks ago. My doctor decided to have me induced and I was put on pitocin that very afternoon. Things were not progressing so late that night they took the pitocin off and let me sleep. When the pitocin was stopped my contractions would too. My doctor told me I had what they call a lazy uterus.lol I started on the pittocin again in the morning(12th). Same thing as the day before. If they would turn up the drip on the pitocin I would have contractions, turn it down and the contractions would diminish. It went like this all day long and into the night. My son was finally born 7:52AM on the 13th. It was a Friday the 13th, we always told him Friday the 13's were lucky days for us, not that we are superstitious. I have had two other children, my second son was born without pitocin on his due date, he has always been my cooperative child.lol My daughter was born a week late. I again was put on pitocin but I was not in labor near as long as with her older brother.Ahh the memories.....
Praying that you have a safe and wonderful delivery and a sweet healthy little boy.
Cheryl
ont_gal
15 years ago
I had it...32 years ago...not a good story,and not about to tell anyone about it.

I can say this much...after having had that stuff,and giving "forced" birth to my daughter,I am more than lucky to have been able to have my son a couple years later.

I wouldnt do it Nicole...when the "apple is ripe,it will fall".
paula_pa
15 years ago
I had Pitocin when my baby was born in July. They started it at 10:45am and he was born at 2:26pm. I enjoyed some actual contractions for a couple of hours (with my first son, I didn't get a break - the pain started and never stopped). They were manageable but then they suddenly became very painful. I was 5-6 cm and they called for the epidural (at my request). It came pretty quickly but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to sit up for it, I was shaking I was in so much pain, the contractions were so fast and furious. Oddly, when I finally did get up for them to insert the epidural the pain stopped. I got the epidural and they checked me again and I was fully dialated - I went from 5-6 to 10 in about 45 minutes. The reason I could sit up for the epidural without having massive contractions was that I had finished dialating. I relaxed for a while and then I pushed the baby out in under 30 minutes.

I did have some distress, whether it was the epidural or the fast labor, I don't know. My BP dropped right after I got the epidural but they gave me some epinephrine and I was fine. The baby had no distress.

Overall it was a better experience than my first labor. It was easier to forget that one bad hour than the several painful hours I had with my first labor.
FlamingO in AR
15 years ago
No advice, just a hug and a big "GOOD LUCK, NICOLE!" and a Happy Birthday to Oliver!
azzalea
15 years ago
They gave me pitocin (27 years ago) because my labor was going slowly. I really don't think it made things go any faster--still took many hours, but yes, I found the contractions after the P. were quite intense. But was able to manage without taking any drugs, so I'm sure you will be fine, too.

As to a gift? I have a 'standard' gift I take to the nurses when someone I know's been in the hospital. They RAVE over it, and devour it. I go to my local bagel shop, and get a bagel tower. They beautifully arrange 2 or 3 dozen assorted bagels around a center support of several containers of flavored cream cheese, then they wrap the whole thing beautifully. It's not that expensive (I think the 2 dozen size is only about $24); bagels are good any time of day, everyone likes them, it seems, and I think it's better than flowers (that die) or sweets--which some are trying to cut back on these days.

If you don't have something like that available in your area, maybe you could see what your local, family-owned bakery can make up for you. Maybe an assortment of muffins or scones, beautifully packaged?
jayokie
15 years ago
An ex-DIL had the p with the 3 children w/my son. (oddly enough, her first at age 15 was over 9# and no pic) The 3rd one did end up in C section but only because the baby refused to stay turned....she was laying cross-wise!! DIL had to have the extra help. Ask your dr &/or nurse all the questions you have & don't let them blow you off....it IS your body and YOUR child - not their's. Sadly, some drs tend to forget that :-/

From what you've written, it sounds like your dr is considering your health & the health of the baby.

As for gifts, when an elderly friend for whom I did his fiancials had been in the hosp. & had excellent care, I put together a very nice fruit basket along with diet drinks I'd seen the staff drinking. When my mom left ICU after having pnuemonia 18 mo ago (& top care I didn't think exsisted anymore), we ordered pizza for them....they LOVED it! Anything you do as a thank you will be appreciated. Too often the good ones get little thanks.
Terri_PacNW
15 years ago
Well I had a Pit IV for #2. It did speed things up..I also suggest an Epidural with that. The labor is more intense and faster usually..I started on the drip about 11, labor started at about 1, and by 3:11, I had him. You aren't 'tied' to the bed until the epidural is administered.

Ask to speak to the Anestesiologist (I know I spelled that wrong!) That is the person whom you want to discuss some of your questions with too. He/she will be the one in charge of dosing.
matti5
15 years ago
I was induced with my first 26 years ago. The drip was started at 6:30 am and he was born 13 hours later. The contractions started getting intense around 7pm. They very slowly increased the dosage throughout the day, maybe that's why mine took longer and was more tolerable. I was able to get up (with iv pole) and walk as often as I wanted.

Nurses love food gifts. Often when patients are discharged they will give the flowers they received to the nurses station, so they tend to get an overload at times.

Good luck Nicole and please don't worry about being induced, only happy and stress free thoughts allowed :)
heather_on
15 years ago
As a nurse I can tell you that the best treat was fruit or cookies that we could eat as we ran. We got far too many chocolates. Flowers stayed at the desk and the only people that really got to enjoy them were the ward clerks.

One of my all time favourites was a couple who owned a Frozen Yogourt store. They used to bring in a large container of it every night, large enough that it would do a whole shift of 30 nurses and doctors. We kept that baby on our unit for weeks, long after the baby could have gone to the step-down surgical unit.

Wishing you and Oliver well Nicole. I agree not to worry, only happy thoughts allowed. Soon you will be hugging your little guy.
alisande
15 years ago
Nicole, are you having PVCs ("skipped heartbeats")? If so, it's possible you're reacting to a food. I had them very badly until I gave up sugar and milk, and they vanished.

I'm sure your doctor would be delighted to hear that I'm giving you advice. LOL
sheilajoyce_gw
15 years ago
I had pitocin with 2 of mine. One was very overdue, and they were concerned about his health. The other one was overdue and my water had broken and it was green--he ahd pooped and that was a concern.

Pitocin moves you into the hard stage of labor. It does shorten what would for that labor have been a longer labor. The contractions are the strongest at this stage, so if you plan to use something to relieve the pain, you will get it before the pitocin. I did Lamaze with no pain reliever, and it was definitely uncomfortable.
patti43
15 years ago
Just wanted to say I'll be thinking about you and hoping for an easy labor and a little Oliver as sweet as Sophie and Benjamin.
vannie
15 years ago
Nicole, I had it with all 3 of mine, so I don't have anything to compare it with. I had 2 easily and 1 not easily. You'll be fine--they have a lot of experience w/ this drug b/c my children are 39, 38, and 31. This has been around a long time.
good36
15 years ago
I know nothing about pitocin but I do know about the nurses, since I have been one for 30 years! LOL

We like chocolate, fruit baskets, homemade goodies and well.... Just about anything to munch on.

Best of luck sweetie! >>>>OLIVERJudy
gneegirl
15 years ago
If they give you the pitocin, get the epidural. I didn't want the epidural but after a while, the pain left me no choice.

They gave me another drug before the epidural and all it did was calm the contractions - prolong labor for a what seemed an eternity. Depending on how much they give you, Pit, as others have said here, can be very very uncomfortable. DD was 10lbs and wouldn't stay turned. There was talk of a C-section but she eventually decided it was time to say Hi.

The trend is to walk a lot even with pit and contractions going at the same time. That will help, but it can be rough too.

I've never heard of any fetal distress from the pit but you and the baby will be monitored. Unless you have a strong coach, I wouldn't try the pit without the epidural or some other paid meds. You will wear yourself out - and you want to have all of your strength to hold that beautiful bundle of joy!!

Congratulations and best wishes. Babies are such a joy, and bring you so much fun and love.

gneegirl
intherain
15 years ago
I was induced 19 years ago with my first child and the next 2 naturally. There really wasn't any difference! I didn't have an epidural with any of them. I've since watched 2 other induced births and the babies came quickly. (They did have epidurals.) I hope you have a similar experience!

Good luck to you!

Sheryl
Kathsgrdn
15 years ago
Being a nurse, I'd rather get a thank you card or note than food. Especially since we already eat too much junk food as it is, donuts, cookies, candy. Not that it won't get eaten, because it will, it's just not the healthiest job in the world because you are running around so much and work long hours making it harder to eat better.

Questions about pictocin and about gift for nurses in hospital

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girlsingardens

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