cytotec for induction?

last dr appt i asked out of curiosity which drug(s) would be used IF i had an induction. she mentioned cytotec. i never heard of it so i googled it. ummmmmm it doesn't sound good!! it doesn't even sound like its supposed to be used! has anyone had experience with this drug

cytotec for induction?

I've heard of it but never looked it up. I just did and it does sound terrifying.

I had 2 rounds of cervidil and a lot of pitocin.

ETA: I read an article from the Journal of Perinatal Education

Message edited 5/16/2015 11:08:06 PM.

cytotec for induction?

I was given cytotec for my induction. I too read the google comments and business of being born documentary and I'll admit they scared me. But at the end of the day, I trusted my doctor with 30+ years professional experience over a bunch of internet quacks and a documentary prodiced by Ricki Lake. My doctor assured me it was perfectly safe. The thing with Google is people typically post worst case scenarios.

Cytotec worked fine for me. It is used to ripen your cervix. I had no adverse effects. But, if it is administered you orally, dont expect to get any rest the night before. I had to take a dose every 2 hours for about 10 hours and was hooked to an IV for fluids and a monitor. The IV had me in the bathroom every hour, in which I needed to ring and wait for a nurse to remove the monitor. Very annoying. That said, I was also given pitocin the next morning after I was 100% effaced and that was no joke. The contractions were definitely not natural. I was stuck at 6cm for 10 hours and my epi did not work and I just could not handle the pain and back labor from the pitocin contractions so I asked for a c section. I think if the epi worked or if I wasn't given pitocin I would've been OK.

Looking back at my specific circumstance, I should've refused the induction at that point. My pregnancy, me and baby were still perfectly healthy at 41 weeks. I kind of wish I would've told my doctor I wanted to hold out a few more days for my DS to come on his own perhaps my labor would've been better.

Re: cytotec for induction?

cytotec for induction?

cytotec isn't indicated for inducing labor. thats the scariest part

Re: cytotec for induction?

They used it for me too! I googled it too n was very scared. It homestly didnt do much for me.. Once i was on pitocin that is when contractions started.

Re: cytotec for induction?

I was induced with dd. Dr was going to use cytotec. The night before my induction I started googling it and beca,e terrified. Everyone I know used Pitocin and/or cervadil. My dr and I butted heads and I refused to use it and wanted Pitocin. In the end, I felt bullied by my dr but stood my ground and got the Pitocin. It's your body, your baby and you have to do what YOU feel comfortable. Yes you need to trust and have faith in your dr, but you make the decisiom for yourself. After that I changed Drs within the practice.

My dr did say though that north shore hospitals will eventually use cytotec exclusively for inductions. Hasn't happened yet....

cytotec for induction?

I will also add I had a successful and comfortable induction. I was never really in pain (had an epidural).

cytotec for induction?

Why would they use that and not pitocin or cervadil?

Re: cytotec for induction?

Re: cytotec for induction?

cytotec for induction?

Message edited 5/18/2015 9:58:38 AM.

Re: cytotec for induction?

I was induced with cytotec for ds#1 and had I known what I later read online about it, at the time I would have refused it. Scary stuff! Thankfully it worked out ok for me although it did overstimulate my uterus to the point that they would only gave me the initial dose & told me I was contracting too hard already only a few hours in to get anymore. Super painful! So I needed Pitocin anyway & the epidural didn't even work that great toward the end either. Although I had a good induction experience overall, that drug cytotec makes me nervous. I'm so thankful I went into labor on my own this time so I didn't have to worry about it.

Re: cytotec for induction?

If you don't want the cytotec maybe ask for cervadil instead. This is what they used on me to help dilate me. I didn't even need pitocin because the cervadil was enough to start my contractions.

cytotec for induction?

I used cytotec, but not for an induction. After dd2, I had retained a portion of my placenta. The Dr prescribed cytotec to help me contract and get rid of the placenta remnants. It did not work, and I felt nothing from the cytotec. He did mention that it is sometimes used in inductions, though I don't believe my practice uses it for inductions.

cytotec for induction?

The purpose of cytotec is to dilate the cervix. So if used in 1st trimester it's actually used for abortion. Induction to bring on labor.

There are some scary incidents though when used for induction. Enough to scare me into not wanting it.

Re: cytotec for induction?

I had cytotec, cervadril, and pitocin... ended up with a c-section. DS is a healthy happy 6 month old.

ETA: Everything was via suppository, except the pit. Looking back, I agree with others who said this, I would refuse the induction and demand to wait it out to see how my BP did once I was on the meds. The resident/hospitalist was very pushy and, honestly, I should have known better... but when your BP is 170/100 and you're 35 & 1/2 weeks pregnant and scared for your baby's life, and yours, you don't really have the presence of mind to question too hard (I did question, but not fast enough).

Message edited 5/18/2015 12:46:39 PM.

Re: cytotec for induction?

I was given cytotec for my first. My water broke but I was not contracting so the doc put it in.

cytotec for induction?

I had two rounds of cervadil and nothing, one dose and cytotec and I was ready for pitocin. I had no issues with it, and it was much less uncomfortable than the cervadil.

Re: cytotec for induction?

I was admitted after my water broke and I was contracting every 2-3 minutes but was only 1 cm. I had one round of cytotec orally - tasted and look just like water. That helped enough to get things moving - then we moved on to pitocin to regulate everything and be more consistent. DD's head wasn't positioned straight so I was having a hard time dilating.

No issue with the cytotec...but I didn't google and see what is said about it.

cytotec for induction?

I was given cytotec ... I did not have a successful induction. When I was admitted for my induction I asked why they would use cytotec and not cervadil - I just kept being told that was their protocal (Katz Women's Hospital). I was being induced bc of complications and I didn't want to start arguing because I was already super stressed out about having a premie. In retrospect, I should have fought it. After 3 doses given orally ... every 2 hours apart ... the contractions were so intense that the baby wasn't tolerating it at all. When they checked me I was about 80% effaced (after 4 hours) but I had not dialated at all and that's why they strongly suggested I have a c/s. I asked my friend who is a doctor why all of a sudden they are using cytotec and she said it's a lot cheaper than cervadil ... IDK how true that is.

cytotec for induction?

I recall reading that it might be used over cervadil as a cheaper alternative. I am also scared of it from a documentary. Yes, many people use it, but you never know if you or baby will react badly to it. If it came up, I would ask about safety and what the alternatives were. IMO, that kind of discussion (informed consent) should happen for any non-emergency treatment.