As a pregnant woman or someone planning to get pregnant, it is good to get a clear picture of what all can be expected during this time. Advance knowledge and preparation is always good because it helps in taking right decisions. If your labour is not progressing well, the healthcare practitioner may ‘augment’ it or help it along by doing things that will help stimulate contractions. There are numerous reasons why the health practitioner goes for it, and this varies from case to case.
During labour pains, the cervix expands making the mucus thinner so that the baby can pass through the birth canal. Some women get active labour with frequent contractions and deliver the baby without any hassle. However, there are times when this active labour turns into infrequent or slow contractions and may stop. To improve the contractions and make it easier to deliver the baby safe and sound, a doctor opts for procedures such as labour augmentation.
Augmentation stimulates the contractions artificially through medical interventions and natural therapies. It helps with the continuity of labour, dilates the cervix, and makes way for the baby to come out. It is done by the doctor after checking the frequency of contractions, the heartbeat of the baby, the dilation of the cervix and the movements of the baby. The baby should be able to tolerate these contractions. If the doctor chooses to go for augmentation, a drug called Pitocin will be given to you.
Pitocin is the artificial form of oxytocin hormone. It is injected through an IV line which is linked to a pump and is controlled by the doctor to give you required amount of the hormone. If this hormone is injected more than the required amount, it can cause continuous and strong contractions. Due to this, the uterus becomes highly stimulated and may put pressure on the baby. The doctor will monitor the contractions along with the baby’s movements with the help of electronic monitoring systems. As the contractions increases, the cervix will get dilated and this helps the baby to descend.
Augmented labour is not without its fair share of risks and one cannot demand it just because it is available. There are certain risks associated with it which should be taken into consideration:
Risks Associated With Using Oxytocin
Many individuals are allergic to this form of medication. Consult a doctor if you are suffering from these major side effects:
Increase in blood pressure causing intense headache, eyesight problem, pounding in neck and ears, anxiety, and bleeding nose
Some of the common side effects are as follows:
Side effects that are caused due to oxytocin don’t need any medical assistance in labour augmented delivery. These side effects will fade away during the treatment once your body gets used to the medicine. Though, you can consult your doctor for reducing the side effects.
Risks Associated With Pitocin
Pitocin is the natural hormone which is used to contract the uterus and induce labour by increasing the intensity of labour at the time of delivery. It is also used to regulate bleeding and to induce the abortion if need be.
Pitocin should be taken under medical supervision only. It should be used at the time of pregnancy only. The major risks associated with Pitocin are:
Some of the common side effects are as follows:
There are different ways to augment labour. Some of them are natural therapies and some are done under medical supervision.
If all the above options fail to get the delivery done, then the doctor may opt for C-section. However, this type of labour augmentation is tried only if:
Labour augmentation should be strictly done under medical guidance as it may result in complications during delivery.