How does oxytocin affect a child? Oxytocin during childbirth - timely help or a threat to the health of mother and child

They stimulate contractions - they receive not only INJURY, but also HYPOXIA - a lack of oxygen and nutrition for the child (primarily for his brain), since during the contraction the blood circulation in the placenta slows down and stops due to spasm of the spiral arteries of the uterus. Stimulated contractions, that is, excessive in strength and duration, disrupt the harmony of interaction in the birth of mother and child. and other uterotonic drugs cause spasm (narrowing) of the vessels of the uterus without contractions (see below).

Drugs used by obstetricians to induce labor and enhance contractions - synthesized artificial hormone oxytocin, synthetic analogues of prostaglandins (PGF 2a, PGE2 - dinoprost, dinoprostone, etc.) and antiprogestogens (etc.) - “cause an increase in uterine tone and its contractility, and also cause a decrease in blood flow to the placenta and fetus”, which is confirmed “according to Doppler data, vascular resistance (resistance to blood flow) in the uterine arteries increases significantly after the use of these drugs” (V.V. Abramchenko “Prostaglandins and antigestagens in obstetrics and gynecology” Petrozavodsk, 2003). Thus, even without contractions, the action of oxytocin, prostaglandins and antiprogestogens causes hypoxia of the child in the womb.

The use of oxytocin, prostaglandins, antiprogestogens in maternity hospitals to induce labor and stimulate contractions reduces the time of labor, but is unsafe for the health of the child, “increases the pain of contractions, increases the risk of pathological uterine contractions and the frequency of postpartum hemorrhage” (V.V. Abramchenko “Prostaglandins and antigestagens in obstetrics and gynecology” 2003).

- According to data from “Clinical Pharmacology” D. R. Lawrence, P. N. Benitt - women with diabetes insipidus syndrome with no In the presence of vasopressin (oxytocin), they give birth quite normally and to healthy children without the introduction of oxytocin and prostaglandins, their contractile-pulling period is not disturbed. But it is believed that "oxytocin contributes to severe jaundice in newborns, which can damage their nervous system."

- V.V. Abramchenko in his book “Prostaglandins and antigestagens in obstetrics and gynecology” (Petrozavodsk, 2003) makes a very important warning: Antiprogestogens (mifepristone and others), prostaglandins and [oxytocin] are their the effect on the fetus remains unknown [unstudied], but for now, any substance that causes a marked increase in uterine tone and contractility, as well as ... a decrease in blood flow to the placenta and fetus, should be considered as potentially harmful [dangerous to the health of the newborn child, to its central nervous systems]. In the book of V.V. Abramchenko has a link to only one foreign article on Doppler ultrasound examination of blood flow through the uterine and placental vessels in parturient women before and during the administration of oxytocin and misoprostol (PGE1-prostaglandin drug). And as a result of these studies, a deterioration in uteroplacental blood flow was revealed. (journal - Internatinal Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, author - Lemancewicz, article - "Uterine and fetal Doppler flow chainges after misoprostol and oxytocin therapy for induction of labor in post-term pregnancies" 1999). There are no such studies in Russia at all (!).

How did doctors decide to use oxytocin and prostaglandins in childbirth, if there is still no evidence of their regulatory significance in uterine contractions during childbirth, but there are so many serious side effects (?!).

Here is what A. Akin and D. Streltsova write about oxytocin in their book “Nine Months and All Life”:

“The artificial or peripheral oxytocin that is given in the hospital to induce labor is very different from the mother's own oxytocin. Natural maternal oxytocin is known as the love hormone released into the blood during orgasm. It is produced by the pituitary gland of a woman during the entire pregnancy and fills her blood to the maximum during childbirth. Oxytocin affects every cell in the bodies of mother and child, including all brain structures. Like a "wise" traffic controller, he connects all the subtle processes that take place in two organisms, maintaining constant harmony.

As pregnancy progresses, the uterus becomes more sensitive to this hormone. In childbirth, its presence contributes to contractions, separation of the placenta, and after them - contraction of the uterus to its original size, as well as the release of milk during feeding.

Peripheral oxytocin, administered for stimulation, invades this harmony as an "uninvited helper." Unlike natural, it does not reach either the brain of the mother or the brain of the child, as established by recent scientific studies. It simply imitates the physiological part of the birth process, causing excessively sharp, frequent and, accordingly, painful contractions. As a result of such contractions, the child receives less oxygen, and the mother gets tired faster, because she does not have time to rest in the pauses between them. Due to the fact that the contractions are sharper, the risk of deadly uterine bleeding increases.

Artificial oxytocin creates stress for the child, a critical situation develops and the risk of a caesarean section increases. Therefore, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AKAG) recommends that oxytocin-induced births use cardiotocography and that a surgeon be present at any time to perform a caesarean section. Childbirth has already become risky.

Since oxytocin is a love hormone, it is even scary to think about the effect of artificial oxytocin on the process of postpartum reunification of a child with his mother. Recent studies have shown a possible link between peripheral oxytocin stimulation during labor and child autism.”

Domestic pediatric neonatologists even have the term "oxytocin children", because. babies born with oxytocin are different (for the worse) from babies born without it. They need breathing stimulation much more often, they are weakened by sharp contractions, due to which much less oxygen is supplied to the child.

The use of oxytocin is justified only when it is really impossible to do without it. In most cases, obstetricians are required to be patient and create a favorable, stress-free environment for the woman giving birth. In addition, there are natural methods of inducing labor: movement, water, cold douches, nipple stimulation, and others.

Subjectively stimulated contractions are much more difficult to bear than ordinary contractions. They are sharper and more painful, because. the uterus responds to external influences, and not to an internal rhythm coordinated with other body systems.

Different women respond differently to the same dose of oxytocin, so there is no standard scheme for using this drug. Doses are selected individually, therefore, when using oxytocin, there is always a danger of overdose with the appearance of side effects.

Oxytocin does not affect the readiness of the cervix to dilate. In addition, in most women, after oxytocin begins to act, labor pain intensifies, therefore, as a rule, it is used in combination with antispasmodics (drugs that relax the muscles of the uterus).

Oxytocin is not used if it is undesirable or impossible to have a child through the birth canal, the fetus is in the wrong position, hypersensitivity to the drug, placenta previa, uterine scars, etc.

The most common side effect of oxytocin is excessive contractile activity of the uterus, which can lead to impaired blood circulation in this organ, and, as a result, to a lack of oxygen in the fetus.

Life experience shows that 90% of the mothers surveyed with children with cerebral palsy had artificially induced and accelerated labor or had an emergency caesarean section, when a threat to the life of the fetus developed against the background of stimulation (approx. 10% of women by prescription and due to nervous and hard life, could not remember the details of childbirth).

To reduce the incidence of cerebral palsy and other disorders of the development of the central nervous system in children in our country, obstetricians are required to stop using artificially created agents for induction (maturation of the cervix) and stimulation of labor and contractions: oxytocin, prostaglandins, antiprogestogens, etc., osmotic dilators (kelp), so how under the action of these drugs the development of pathological (unnatural, unnatural) childbirth occurs. The process of childbirth that began naturally, under the influence of these drugs, passes into a pathological process. Such an artificially induced pathological course of the birth process is dangerous, first of all, by circulatory disorders and birth trauma to the fetus, which leads to damage to the fetal central nervous system. In mild cases, up to a year of life in a child, a neurologist will detect a syndrome of neuro-reflex excitability, sleep disturbances, muscular dystonia, autonomic dysfunction (unreasonable regurgitation, etc.), normotensive hydrocephalus, clubfoot, etc., after a year - delayed speech development, hyperactivity and deficiency attention, walking on toes, etc. In severe cases - epileptic syndrome, hyperkinesis, cerebral palsy, autism syndrome, mental retardation, etc.

Induction and stimulation of labor is the main cause of damage to the central nervous system of a newborn baby!

Hello dear readers! The waiting time of the crumbs is filled with a wide variety of feelings: from impatience and delight, to excitement and even obvious fear. The imminent onset of childbirth is especially frightening and makes the expectant mother worry. At this moment, we are worried that everything goes as well as possible and without any risk. But, unfortunately, things don't always go smoothly. Often, doctors are faced with weak labor activity, which today is easily corrected by medication. In today's article, we will talk with you about oxytocin during childbirth, we will understand why the woman's body needs this hormone so much, and whether its artificial stimulation is dangerous for the child.

Today, labor induction with the help of oxytocin is not uncommon. Often it is carried out even for women who do not have weakness of labor activity, in order to speed up and facilitate the process of delivery. But women in labor have the following question: Is such stimulation not dangerous, and is it worth taking risks when there are no special indications for this? These and many other questions I will answer in our today's article.

What is oxytocin?

Whatis it?

Oxytocin is a hormone produced by the hypothalamus. We used to think that oxytocin is necessary during labor only to enhance uterine contractions and stimulate the process of breastfeeding. But several very important functions are often simply forgotten - strengthening the emotional connection between mother and baby, and natural anesthesia of the birth process. Under the influence of oxytocin, a woman is in a euphoric state.

Oxytocin acts like a narcotic substance, a woman notes clouding of consciousness, a persistent feeling of joy and happiness. Due to the increased content of this hormone during childbirth and the postpartum period, a strong emotional connection appears between mom and her tiny miracle.

Oxytocin is by no means harmless to a tiny organism, therefore, such artificial stimulation of labor is resorted to when a woman's body really needs help.

Whya woman is injected with this hormone?

Situations when a woman needs an additional amount of oxytocin:

when labor activity was normal, but then abruptly stopped;
before regular labor activity began;
with severe;
weak or their complete absence against the background;
complicated pregnancy;
with Rh-conflict of mother and fetus;
with heavy bleeding after childbirth;
with a weak contraction of the uterus in the postpartum period (large fetus, polyhydramnios, multiple pregnancy).

It is possible to stimulate labor activity in this way only in the 2nd and 3rd stages of labor, when the cervical dilatation is more than 4 cm, and the amniotic fluid is already completely absent. Therefore, if the fetal bladder is still intact, an amniotomy is performed before stimulation - a puncture of the fetal bladder.

It is believed that from about the 32nd week of pregnancy, the level of this hormone in the blood of a woman is steadily increasing, and by the end of the period reaches its climax. It is this fact that causes the onset of labor activity. Most of the doctors are inclined to this theory.

Contraindications

Even despite a lot of positive aspects when stimulating labor with oxytocin, there is a list of situations that prohibit this procedure:

there are scars on the uterus (after a caesarean section or surgical interventions);
pelvic;
the presence of pathologies of the cervix and the uterus itself (tumors, fibroids);
with multiple pregnancy;
the neck is immature, with insufficient opening;
if the mother is expecting a large baby;
with a narrow pelvis.

In some cases, it also happens that a woman has a high risk of uterine rupture. This situation also imposes a ban on the stimulation of labor with the help of oxytocin.

The subtleties of stimulating labor with oxytocin

As in any other case, there are certain rules in such a procedure.

How is oxytocin administered?

There are 2 acceptable methods of stimulation: intravenous and intramuscular (an injection in the leg). Which of them to use will be decided by your doctor individually, but most often they prefer intravenous administration of oxytocin.

Functions of oxytocin:

Stimulation of uterine contractions.
Establishing the process of lactation.
Strengthening feelings of affection.
Analgesic effect in childbirth.

Now let's look at the pros and cons of using synthetic oxytocin in childbirth.

What are the consequences of oxytocin for the expectant mother and her baby?

Every expectant mother worries about the health of her little miracle. And when stimulating childbirth with drugs, a woman is very worried that they can very badly affect the tiny and delicate body of the baby.

Is oxytocin stimulation dangerous, and what are the consequences of it?

A question that worries many pregnant women. Like any drug, it has its own side effects, but with proper use, the likelihood of a bad effect is practically reduced to zero.

Effectsfor the expectant mother:

uterine rupture;
a strong jump in pressure;
heavy bleeding in the postpartum period;
allergic reaction;
severe headaches, migraine;
general malaise;
convulsions.

In particularly difficult situations, a woman can fall into a coma, but this is only in the case of gross mistakes made by medical personnel and in the presence of a burdened history.

Effectsfor a child:

hemorrhage in the corner of the eyes;
oxygen starvation;
may develop

In difficult situations, problems in the functioning of the brain are possible.

These consequences develop quite rarely in the presence of other negative factors. If you do the stimulation competently and wisely, then the birth will be wonderful. I can say with confidence that with competent and experienced staff, you can not worry about the possible consequences. My second birth was stimulated with oxytocin. I did not see any negative impact on my body and on the body of the child.

As I said above, such serious problems develop when stimulation is carried out without obvious indications, with the assumption of a number of gross errors.

No one will give you a drug without obvious reasons. Only in situations where the doctor understands that her hormone will not be enough for a woman, such a decision is made.

What are the advantages of the drug?

Agree, there are a lot of minuses, but there are also positive aspects of its use.

Benefits of oxytocin:

begins to act within 5 minutes after administration;
causes regular good contractions, sufficient to move the child through the birth canal;
helps to establish lactation after childbirth;
prevention of bleeding after childbirth;
improves the condition of the baby, if his health suddenly worsened.

After how muchDo contractions start after injection?

In this situation, everything happens individually. In some women, strong contractions begin almost immediately after the introduction, in others they do not begin at all.

To stimulate labor, a small dosage of the drug is administered, while to start this process from scratch, its amount increases significantly. If the doctor sees that even the introduction of the hormone will not help facilitate the process of childbirth, then a decision is made on an emergency caesarean section.

Conclusion

Oxytocin is a rather serious drug that cannot be used without obvious reasons. But when its use is justified, it turns out to be a very effective assistant in accelerating and facilitating childbirth.
The main thing is not to worry! Feelings of fear and excitement slow down the process of childbirth on a subconscious level. You need to calm down, because your baby suffers no less, and his life depends on you to a greater extent.

After giving birth, you will remember all this as a nightmare, but it will already be over. And you will get unforgettable moments spent with the baby. I hope that you understand why a woman is injected with oxytocin during childbirth.

Dear readers, today I propose to discuss the topic in the comments: Weight loss after childbirth. Share your effective ways to lose weight, tell us what, in your opinion, helps you get rid of extra pounds the best. I believe that the best way to lose weight is wrapping and physical activity. Dieting yourself is stupid! There are so many goodies in our world, denying yourself food is unfair. But physical activity, and even better, a special weight loss program perfectly bring a young mother into shape.

To avoid stretch marks, sagging skin, cellulite, and help yourself get rid of subcutaneous deposits, do not forget about special fat burning creams for body wraps. Their effect is simply amazing! I say this with a 100% guarantee! The advantage of wraps is that you can get rid of excess fat in certain places. Which is very cool. After all, when most of us go on a diet, the butt and chest are blown off first, and only then the stomach. Wrap cream allows you to decide what you want to reduce)

I want to wish you a successful and easy birth! Bye!

It is also called female - its role in the body is very large. The effect of the hormone on the body is still being studied, but it is now reliably known that it:

reduces the production of cortisol (stress hormone);
improves the quality of sleep;
increases the degree of attachment to another person;
reinforces emotional memories;
increases sexual arousal.

But oxytocin is most pronounced during childbirth, due to its effects:

the frequency and intensity of uterine contractions increases, which leads to active labor;
the contraction of myoepithelial cells in the mammary gland is stimulated, thanks to which milk passes through the ducts more easily, is pushed out;
promotes the production of a hormone responsible for milk production.

Usually in a healthy woman, oxytocin is at the same level, even throughout the entire period of pregnancy. Only before the birth itself, its concentration in the blood increases sharply. The production of the hormone occurs to a greater extent at night, which is why contractions most often begin at this time.

The hormone plays an important role in the development of maternal instinct, attachment to the baby. The restoration of the psycho-emotional state of a woman after childbirth also largely depends on the action of this hormone, because this is a great stress for the body, both moral and physical, and only a man who gave birth on his own could understand what childbirth is.

Why is it injected during childbirth and after

The lack of hormone production during a woman's life is not very noticeable, but if its level is reduced in the early prenatal period, this can lead to the absence of contractions. In this case, childbirth in a natural way will not be able to pass. However, there is a synthesized hormone that doctors prescribe for weak contractions - it fully corresponds to natural oxytocin in terms of molecular composition, and therefore does not cause rejection.

Oxytocin is the first hormone that scientists have learned to synthesize, is available in liquid form, is administered intravenously, most often using droppers, less often injected subcutaneously. For women, after a caesarean section, it may be injected directly into the uterus for best results.

How is labor stimulated by hormones?

A special analysis to determine the level of oxytocin is not prescribed. Yes, and during pregnancy, its result will not say anything.

After the discharge of amniotic fluid and the onset of contractions, when its amount begins to grow rapidly, it would be reasonable to measure it, but rapid tests have not yet been invented that quickly give results. Therefore, only a doctor can make a diagnosis and decide on the use of the drug. He evaluates labor activity, the degree of cervical dilatation, the intensity of contractions. Oxytocin stimulation will be needed in the following situations:

in the presence of a Rh conflict in a child and mother, when the woman's body begins to produce antibodies that kill the baby's red blood cells;
with early discharge of amniotic fluid and with insufficiently intense contractions, when there is a threat of fetal hypoxia;
for rapid delivery in women with progressive preeclampsia - it leads to impaired blood flow and the vascular system. Preeclampsia is in second place among the causes of death of women during pregnancy;
if labor activity has become non-intensive and the contractile activity of the uterus has noticeably decreased;
if the fetus is in the pelvic cavity for a long time, as a result of which the internal organs can be strongly compressed, and subsequently fistulas will form in these places.

Why use oxytocin in the postpartum period

Most often, oxytocin after childbirth is prescribed to women who have had a caesarean section. In this case, the drug is administered either using a dropper or into the muscle tissue of the uterus, this is necessary for:

stimulating the contraction of the uterus so that it decreases in size;
prevention of lactostasis - stagnation of milk in the ducts;
to prevent bleeding in the uterus;
to calm down - it is known that oxytocin blocks, resulting in peace and tranquility.

What is an allergy to oxytocin

The synthetic drug oxytocin is fully consistent with the hormone produced in the body of a woman, so allergic reactions are completely excluded. But there are certain rules for its application, and today doctors often neglect them, trying to speed up labor in a natural way.

You can not enter the hormone and stimulate contractions in the following cases:

when the cervix is not sufficiently dilated;
when the fetus is in the wrong position and natural delivery is impossible;
with hydrocephalus;
if there is a threat of uterine rupture;
if there are scars on the walls of the uterus after a previous caesarean section or other ongoing surgical operations;
in the event of a tumor of the cervix and other reasons that prevent childbirth in a natural way;
if there is information about the woman's increased sensitivity to oxytocin, or there was hyperstimulation in previous births;
with caution, doctors prescribe a hormone for multiple pregnancies or uterine myoma.

The effect of oxytocin on the child

When using oxytocin in childbirth, its action begins after 3-5 minutes. This time is not enough for a large amount of it to enter the blood to the child, and small doses do not have any effect on the fetus. Therefore, the expression "oxytocin children" has no right to exist.

There is confirmed evidence that when the hormone is administered after childbirth, it enters the baby's blood through milk and has a beneficial effect on its hypothalamus, stimulating its vigorous activity. It should be understood that oxytocin in the postpartum period is administered in small doses, so only the smallest part of it will go with milk to the baby - its effect on the body will be almost negligible.

Dosage of the drug

Oxytocin during childbirth is administered according to the following scheme:

an intravenous drip is placed;
1 ml of the hormone (5 IU) is added to 500 ml of the solvent (glucose or saline is used);
start with 8 drops per minute, then every 40 minutes. 5 more drops are added until the desired result is achieved;
throughout the administration of the drug, control of uterine contractions, fetal heartbeat and the general condition of the woman in labor is carried out.

Scheme of drug administration to women after caesarean section:

1 ml (5 IU) of the drug is injected into the muscle of the uterus once;
to prevent bleeding - 1 ml three times a day.

Oxytocin is also used to stop intrauterine bleeding:

after the release of the placenta, the drug must be injected into the muscle of the uterus with a dosage of 1 ml;
then put a dropper: 8 ml of hormone per 1 liter of solvent.

Sensations of a woman with the introduction of oxytocin

After the introduction of the hormone into the blood to stimulate childbirth, its action manifests itself rather quickly. A woman feels more intense contractions, the time interval between them is reduced. There is a sharp and prolonged feeling of pain. In general, the woman's condition is characterized as normal, with active labor activity.

Induction of labor with oxytocin sometimes causes some negative consequences:

For a woman:

nausea and vomiting;
hyperhydration with convulsions;
headache;
skin rashes;
arrhythmia.

For a child:

hemorrhages in the eye;
tachycardia;
arrhythmia;
increased muscle tone.

Why can artificial oxytocin therapy be dangerous?

Proper use of hormone therapy during and after childbirth does not lead to negative consequences.

If oxytocin was used to stimulate labor in the presence of contraindications, then this can cause irreparable harm to the mother's body:

uterine rupture;
profuse bleeding;
the formation of hematomas in the pelvic area;
anaphylaxis.

The child has:

asphyxia with a possible fatal outcome;
the occurrence of birth trauma;
disruption of the central nervous system, in the future.

Bibliography

Diabetes mellitus in pregnant women. Makarov O.V., Ordynsky Moscow 2010 P.127.
Emergency conditions in obstetrics. Sukhikh V.N., G.T. Sukhikh, I.I. Baranov et al., Publisher: Geotar-Media, 2011.
Kozlova V.I., Pukhner A.F. Viral, chlamydial and mycoplasmal diseases of the genitals. Guide for doctors. St. Petersburg 2000.-574 p.
Rakovskaya I.V., Vulfovich Yu.V. Mycoplasma infections of the urogenital tract. - M.: Medicine, 1995.
Emergency conditions in obstetrics and gynecology: diagnosis and treatment. Pearlman M., Tintinalli J. 2008 Publisher: Binom. Knowledge Lab.

She graduated from the Kirov State Medical Academy in 2006. In 2007, she worked at the Tikhvin Central District Hospital on the basis of the therapeutic department. From 2007 to 2008, he worked at a hospital for a mining company in the Republic of Guinea (West Africa). From 2009 to the present, he has been working in the field of information marketing of medical services. We work with many popular portals, such as Sterilno.net, Med.ru, website

Oxytocin during childbirth should be used only when there is a threat to the life of the mother or child, that is, no more than 10% of cases. This is the recommendation of the World Health Organization for the use of a synthetic analogue of the human hormone. According to the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, in our country labor stimulant used 2-3 times more often. Almost every woman knows firsthand what oxytocin is. What could be the consequences of such therapy for mother and child in the future?

Why prick oxytocin during childbirth?

Women who have given life to more than one child know: most often, contractions begin at night. Why? Yes, because in the dark or twilight, oxytocin, or love, as it is often called for its ability to influence the relationship between a man and a woman, their mutual feelings begins to be most intensively produced.

Oxytocin during childbirth performs several important functions: influences uterine contractions, stimulates contractions, helps to relax a group of smooth muscles, promotes discharge of the placenta.

And after childbirth, it ensures the attachment of the mother to the child, causes the prolactin necessary to stimulate lactation to be more actively produced, increases the flow of milk from the mammary glands into the milk ducts, and returns the enlarged uterus to its original size.

The use of an injection or dropper with synthetic oxytocin is indicated for rapidly developing late toxicosis of pregnant women, with absence labor activity for a long time (more than 4 hours) after rupture of amniotic fluid, as well as in those cases when the contractions in the process of childbirth suddenly stopped.

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for oxytocin during childbirth used to speed up the birth of a child. Doctors are also people and also want to quickly get rid of time-consuming and tedious work and finally go to rest. How will this affect the health of the mother and child later?

Oxytocin during childbirth: consequences for the mother

What is dangerous synthetic oxytocin during childbirth for woman?

Tears in tissues, including the uterus. This happens, for example, with insufficient disclosure of the cervix. The uterus intensively pushes the child out of itself, and all the tissues that prevent its exit are damaged.
Rapid fatigue. Excessively sharp, frequent, and therefore more painful contractions for several hours in a row they do not give the woman the opportunity to rest and recover in between them, they exhaust her, they are much more difficult to bear. In natural childbirth, such contractions are observed only before the very attempts. The rest of the time, the pain is present, but it is quite tolerable.
. This is a frequent consequence of intense contractions, which can be fatal. And therefore, if it could not be stopped, the uterus is removed.
Braking and stopping labor activity. The continuous administration of oxytocin through a drip on some women has the exact opposite effect, not stimulating contractions, but suppressing them.
The uterine muscles lose their tone. Synthetic oxytocin inhibits the production of its own hormone in a woman's body. Because of this, bleeding may open after childbirth.
Longer postpartum rehabilitation.

Some women, being sure that the introduction of oxytocin is necessary for the birth of a healthy child, are ready to turn a blind eye to their own feelings and well-being for this. But is it really safe? oxytocin during childbirth for a baby?

Oxytocin during childbirth: consequences for the baby

Russian doctors involved in the treatment of newborn babies have the concept of " oxytocin children". The health of such crumbs leaves much to be desired. How does oxytocin during childbirth on babies?

Development . During a contraction, blood circulation in the placenta slows down and completely stops due to the fact that the bloodstream of the spiral arteries of the uterus suddenly narrows. Frequent contractions for a long time, provoked by an injection of oxytocin, lead to the fact that less blood is supplied to the placenta and fetus, and therefore less oxygen. But that's not all: oxytocin constricts blood vessels even in the absence of contractions. Later, oxygen starvation will come back to haunt the child with a mental and physical lag in development.
Microtrauma of the brain.
Hydrocephalus.
Difficulty in taking the first breath.
. Because of any trifle " oxytocin baby' comes out.
Hyperactivity.
Various diseases: neonatal jaundice, causing damage to the nervous system, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, involuntary twitching of body parts (arms, legs, shoulders, eyelids, face, and others).

Scientists today are unanimous in their opinion: artificial oxytocin is not able to replace a natural hormone; moreover, it has a negative effect on the birth process and leads to irreversible consequences for both mother and child.

HEALTH NEWS.

Labor induction is an activity that leads to an acceleration of labor activity and is carried out after the spontaneous onset of labor. The situation when childbirth is caused before the natural onset of labor is called induction of labor. Cm. " ".

Indications for labor induction.

If the birth is too slow, the contractions are not intense enough, or the head is slowly moving along the birth canal, the issue of labor induction is decided. Protracted childbirth can have a lot of complications, adversely affect the condition of the mother or fetus.

It is important to know the moment of onset of labor, which in most cases is impossible. The first phase of childbirth (contractions) is divided into latent (hidden) and active. The latent phase often goes unnoticed, contractions can be painless and irregular.

The active phase of labor begins when the cervical dilatation is 3-4 centimeters. From this moment, doctors begin to monitor the rate of cervical opening and the progress of the child through the birth canal.

The opening of the cervix by one centimeter per hour is considered normal, if the opening is less than half a centimeter, then they speak of the weakness of labor activity. But all these norms are approximate, and if the cervix opens slowly, but the woman and the child feel good, then you can still wait with stimulation.

By the way, the pain of contractions is not an indicator of the rapid opening of the cervix. Contractions can be painful and ineffective, that is, do not lead to normal cervical dilatation, or there may be fairly rapid dilatation with mild pain.

In a maternity hospital, the strength and duration of contractions is measured using special devices that are applied to the woman's stomach. Also, the progress of childbirth is judged by the advancement of the fetal head along the birth canal.

If labor activity proceeds too slowly or stops completely, the condition of the mother or fetus worsens, then the question arises of accelerating delivery.

Before conducting stimulation, it is important to find out the cause of weak labor activity. Sometimes surgery (cesarean, vacuum extraction) will be more effective than stimulation. For example, if the cause of prolonged labor is a discrepancy between the birth canal of the mother and the size of the fetus, then it may be more correct to perform a caesarean section.

How is labor induction done?

Sometimes, to enhance labor activity, it is enough just to walk and change body postures so that the child takes the optimal position and presses on the cervix with its weight, thereby stimulating its opening.

Often, labor is slowed down due to fear and other negative emotions that a woman experiences during childbirth. In this case, a warm bath or shower can help, which helps the woman in labor to relax.

Sometimes, with ineffective and painful contractions, doctors use the following tactics: they give the woman a sedative and anesthetic injection and offer to rest and sleep. In many cases, after rest, labor activity resumes with renewed vigor.

When the cervix is more than 4 centimeters dilated, if the fetal bladder is still intact, it is opened - an amniotomy. Part of the amniotic fluid leaves, the fetal head is more tightly pressed against the cervix and often this is enough to speed up labor.

If the doctor decides to stimulate labor with drugs, he informs the woman about this, because everything should happen with the consent of the woman in labor.

Stimulation of labor by oxytocin.

In most cases, labor is stimulated with oxytocin, a hormone produced in the body during childbirth that causes uterine contractions (contractions).

The dose of oxytocin must be calculated individually. Oxytocin is administered intravenously using a dropper, if necessary, the administration of the drug can be quickly stopped.

Oxytocin increases contractions, makes them more effective, but the pain becomes stronger. The doctor may increase the dose of oxytocin gradually to allow the mother to get used to the intense contractions.

Women think that giving birth with oxytocin is more painful, and some doctors actually believe that contractions when stimulated are stronger than natural ones. But there is another opinion: during natural childbirth, the strength of contractions increases gradually and the woman in labor has time to get used to them.

With the introduction of oxytocin, contractions immediately become painful and the woman in labor is physically and psychologically not ready for them. But with stimulation, the duration of labor is reduced.

Is labor induction harmful?

Labor induction cannot be considered an unambiguous evil; it often helps to avoid surgical intervention and give birth vaginally. Nevertheless, intervention in the natural process automatically translates stimulated labor into the category of pathological ones. Therefore, if labor induction is carried out without indications, it is definitely harmful.

Labor induction increases the risk of uterine hyperstimulation, which is fraught with problems with the fetal heartbeat, hypoxia (lack of oxygen) of the fetus. However, adherence to the correct dosage and careful monitoring of the condition of the mother and fetus can avoid overstimulation.

The disadvantage of oxytocin stimulation is the restriction of the woman's mobility. We know that certain positions during labor can relieve pain and speed up the baby's progress through the birth canal. Cm. " ".

The dropper slightly limits the movements of the woman in labor, in addition, when stimulating labor, it is necessary to more often control the strength of contractions and the heartbeat of the fetus.

Sometimes a woman has to lie with sensors on her stomach for a long time, although usually heartbeat monitoring is carried out periodically, for example, every ten minutes, and a woman in labor still has the opportunity to take various positions, sit on a fitball, stand, and so on.

Unfortunately, at present, stimulation is often carried out unreasonably, because the woman wanted to give birth as soon as possible, and the doctor went home early. In this regard, a chain reaction of medical interventions during childbirth is launched.

Oxytocin stimulation can cause severe pain and the woman in labor requires an epidural, anesthesia in turn can slow down the second stage of labor (pulling), the woman will not be able to push normally and will require the use of forceps or vacuum.

Always, when deciding on the stimulation of labor, the doctor must determine whether it will benefit the mother or the child, whether it is worth stimulating or performing a caesarean section, or maybe even observe. Often, women in whom doctors suspected weak labor activity give birth without drug stimulation.