I found the following important article about the damaging affects of Pitocin, a drug routinely used in hospital birthing by obstetricians for inductions and augmentation of labor. Pitocin is specifically only approved by the FDA when medically indicated. I have added an important note at the end of the article about the emotional and psychological affects of this drug, which is rarely talked about. Here is the web site at which I found the following article:

http://www.birthroutes.com/2010/05/pitocin-not-approved-by-the-fda-for-elective-or-nonmedical-inductions-.html

May 30, 2010 - Pitocin not approved by the FDA for elective (or non-medical inductions).

PITOCIN (oxytocin) Mnfr: MONARCH PHARMACEUTICALS, INC

PITOCIN has been approved by the FDA for the medical induction and stimulation of labor. Pitocin has not approved for the elective induction or stimulation of labor.

Source: FDA APPROVED OBSTETRICS DRUGS: THEIR EFFECTS ON MOTHER AND BABY

Which means, that the common use of Pitocin in hospitals for inducing a mother post dates (without medical reason) is highly dangerous. The risks are too high for a non-medical induction. The use pitocin in labor to ’speed things up’ is not FDA approved. You can refuse pitocin augmentation unless medical indicated that there is a reason other than someone’s bed space and watch ticking.

“Oxytocin crosses the placenta and enters the blood and brain of the fetus within seconds or minutes. There appears to be a correlation between fetal exposure to oxytocin and autism in the exposed offspring.”

The manufacturer of oxytocin warns the provider in the package insert:

Continue reading PITOCIN – A COMMONLY USED DRUG IN CHILDBIRTH – WHAT’S WRONG WITH IT?

I found this on the Alliance for the Improvement of Maternity Services  (AIMS) web site, and I think that it is very important that every birthing family fully understands their rights if choosing labor and birth, or just birth, in hospital. It is also important to know these facts when you are considering the safest place to give birth. Knowledge is power, and only when you are fully aware of the implications of the decisions you are making, can you truly be in power and truly be making real choices for yourself and your baby’s health and future emotional, physical and emotional well-being. Karen

Many pregnant women are not fully aware of their right of informed consent or of the obstetricians’ legal obligation to obtain their patient’s informed consent prior to treatment. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) first publicly acknowledged the physician’s legal obligation to obtain his or her pregnant patient’s informed consent in its 1974 publication, Standards for Obstetric-Gynecologic Services, (pg 66-67) which reads:

“It is important to note the distinction between ‘consent’ and ‘informed consent’. Many physicians, because they do not realize there is a difference, believe they are free from liability if the patient consents to treatment. This is not true. The physician may still be liable if the patient’s consent was not informed. In addition, the usual consent obtained by a hospital does not in any way release the physician from his legal duty of obtaining an informed consent from his patient.

Continue reading THE PREGNANT PATIENT’S BILL OF RIGHTS

We recently had a new baby come into our family, and I was reminded once again, how much change needs to happen when a little one comes into the family. Everyone has to make space for the new member, both internally, and externally in the family roles and dynamics. In birthing families everyone’s roles are shifting. We are all taking on new roles, and it is very helpful to think about this so that you can be clear about what your role is, and how you want to behave.  It is also important for each person to think about what they want from the other members of the family in this transition. E.g. mother is becoming grandmother, daughter is becoming mother, son is becoming a dad, father is becoming a grandfather, and born siblings having to move over for the younger member. There is a process that we are all going through to make these shifts, both internally, and in our outer roles. A pregnant family may have very different needs and requirements of their other close family members at this time.

Continue reading Pregnancy, Birth & Family Dynamics: What It Takes To Get Ready