Giving birth is a completely life-altering event, no matter how it happens. And every birth is completely and totally different. There is no real way to predict exactly what's going to happen during labor and delivery. Even if a birth parent had an easy delivery one time, a subsequent delivery might be really tough, and vice versa. You really never know! It's just one of the mysteries around birth.
Though medical intervention often happens more than is necessary in American culture (far more) for a variety of reasons, interventions in birth are sometimes truly needed. They can even be lifesaving for either the birthing person, the baby, or both. One of those interventions may be inducing labor by the use of Pitocin.
These days, it seems like inductions happen extraordinarily often, and they do! In 1990, just 9.5% of US women had labor induced. By 2008, that number had more than doubled to around 23.1%, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Those numbers are still growing, but many people are tuning into the fact that, when possible, waiting for spontaneous labor can be the safest route.
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Still, many inductions happen by surprise due to medical complications. Others are scheduled inductions for other reasons — all of which are valid and should be the choice of the person birthing the baby. However, there is a lot about being induced that many people sometimes aren't made aware of before it happens. Sometimes, birth parents tend to think that inductions are so common they must be very low risk or even make labor quicker and easier, and that isn't always the case.
Here are some things every expectant person should know about getting induced:
1. Pitocin can lead to more intense (painful) contractions.
Your body is an expert at knowing how to labor. Though sometimes, due to a number of medical issues that can arise, your labor needs to be kicked off with a drug called Pitocin to get the baby out. Pitocin is actually the artificial version of oxytocin, a natural hormone that your body creates. The drug can definitely be effective, but laboring people often say the contractions feel way more intense than the natural ones.
2. Pitocin can put added stress on your baby.
While Pitocin is sometimes necessary, it should be noted that it definitely has the potential to put added stress on your baby. Because those contractions can often be more intense, that means your baby can feel the pressure, too. With that being said, people receiving Pitocin should be closely monitored to make sure that both the birthing person and the baby are tolerating it well.
3. It can lead to higher risk of C-section.
An induction from Pitocin comes with risks. Not only can it put pressure on the baby, it can also overstimulate the uterus. That means contractions can come hard and fast. One of the biggest risks is that baby might not be getting enough oxygen. If baby goes into distress, a surgical birth may be necessary. A higher risk of C-section is something any provider should be forthcoming about when discussing an induction of labor.
4. There are benefits to spontaneous labor.
Inductions are often talked about as if they aren't much different from going into labor on your own. But there are benefits to going into spontaneous labor. One of those being that, even if you have to wait (sometimes uncomfortably) long for your baby who might be labeled as overdue as soon as the 40-weeks-to-the-day mark passes, your baby will be more ready! There are a lot of things happening during gestation — even in the final weeks and days. They are all important. A baby who comes without induced labor might require fewer interventions after birth and may nurse more effectively. Plus, your labor is likely to build more slowly, rather than be fast and furious.
5. An induction can fail.
One of the most important things to know about inductions is that they don't always work. About 20% to 25% of inductions by Pitocin fail. Most times, it's because a person's body isn't ready. If your cervix isn't dilated or effaced at all, it's not going to open. The body's natural process involves the cervix softening, opening, and turning to the exact right position. If none of this is happening, then Pitocin can induce contractions, but those contractions won't really help your baby come out.
