What happens if pitocin doesnt work

Too many contractions may lead to changes in the fetal heart rate. Other risks of cervical ripening and labor induction can include infection in the woman or her fetus. Sometimes labor induction does not work. Women who have induction at 39 weeks should be allowed up to 24 hours or longer for the early phase of labor.

They also should be given oxytocin at least 12—18 hours after stripping of the membranes. If your labor does not progress, and if you and your fetus are doing well after attempting induction, you may be sent home. You can schedule another appointment to try induction again.

If your labor starts, you should go back to the hospital. If you or your fetus are not doing well after attempting induction, a cesarean delivery may be needed. The fetus develops in this sac. Fetus : The stage of human development beyond 8 completed weeks after fertilization. Gestational Hypertension : High blood pressure that is diagnosed after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Oxytocin : A hormone made in the body that can cause contractions of the uterus and release of milk from the breast.

Placenta : An organ that provides nutrients to and takes waste away from the fetus. Preeclampsia : A disorder that can occur during pregnancy or after childbirth in which there is high blood pressure and other signs of organ injury.

These signs include an abnormal amount of protein in the urine, a low number of platelets, abnormal kidney or liver function, pain over the upper abdomen, fluid in the lungs, or a severe headache or changes in vision.

Prostaglandins : Chemicals that are made by the body that have many effects, including causing the muscles of the uterus to contract, usually causing cramps.

Uterus : A muscular organ in the female pelvis. Grief mixed with crippling anxiety over my unborn child's well-being had taken a toll, and my midwife reasoned that based on my mental state, I, along with my baby, would benefit from his entrance into the world a few days earlier than expected. The process of inducing labor wasn't new to me. My first child was born after a medically induced labor, so the second time around I felt more than comfortable with the process.

In both cases, my medical team prepared me by explaining the procedure in detail. I knew that I would be given ripening agents for my cervix, either in the form of a suppository or pill. And that those medications would slowly begin softening and thinning my cervix in preparation for labor. I knew that I would be administered pitocin, a synthetic form of oxytocin — the body's contraction-inducing hormone. And that even when the drug generated strong contractions, it would still be unlikely for labor to progress rapidly.

I knew to expect a longer-than-average labor. After all, I labored with my firstborn for well over 30 hours. But what no one told me was that inducing labor might not actually work. The doctors, midwives, and nurses that I'd worked with in both my first and last pregnancies never mentioned this as a possibility.

I had never even heard of what I would come to know as a "failed induction" taking place. I had no idea that there was a chance I might leave the hospital with my baby still in my womb. If you are having contractions on your own, it may not be safe to use these medicines. How long will the induction process take?

Does induction always work? Is induced labor more painful? What are the risks to inducing labor? Some of the risks associated with each method are as follows: Pitocin : Pitocin can cause harder, more frequent contractions than a woman might otherwise have.

As can happen in natural labor, very strong contractions might be stressful for the fetus. This may require temporarily stopping the Pitocin. Rarely, it leads to an emergency cesarean delivery. Sometimes Pitocin causes contractions, but the cervix does not open. Ripening agents : These drugs can cause harder, more frequent uterine contractions than occur naturally.

These contractions can usually be stopped with an injectable uterine relaxing drug if necessary. Rarely, these contractions can put stress on the fetus, requiring an emergency cesarean. Other side effects of ripening agents include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If you have asthma, be sure to tell your clinician. Some ripening agents may not be the best option for you.

Amniotomy : If the amniotic membrane is ruptured, the risk of infection for the baby grows greater as the hours pass. If labor does not begin within a few hours of an amniotomy, Pitocin may be given to start labor contractions and reduce the risk of infection to the baby.

All types of induction may cause a long labor, because labor will start before the body is completely ready for it. Or, they may fail to cause labor or birth. If the reason for delivering the baby is important enough for induction, a cesarean birth may be needed. Related Blog Articles. Care Today Search Menu. Read This Next. Signs of Labor. What Is Cord Blood Banking?

Natural Ways to Induce Labor. View Sources. Lamaze International, Induction with Pitocin , Mayo Clinic, Labor Induction , September Pregnancy Groups. Jump to Your Week of Pregnancy. Pregnancy Week.

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