Cytotec - any experiences?? (Pregnancy related)

[Fishbone†]

My little man is late and as they don't like them to go past two weeks overdue, we are scheduled to go in tonight to try and coax him out. The first thing they want to try is Cytotec to get some dialation as I haven't progressed in that way at all. Now as much as I want to be informed, I know that sometimes horror stories are over-stated, and the side effects come with almost everything, but some of what I've read on this frightens me (as does Pitocin and they use that all the time). Does anyone have experience with using Cytotec - not to induce - but to prep for induction or at least get some progression started?? I want the good, bad and ugly, but I'm looking for your experience or the experience of someone you know for sure. I've read some on it and I know the apparent issues - just looking for real life experiences.

TIA

 

[starann]

I have no experience with Cytotec, but I did have Pit for both of my deliveries. I had never had a 'natural (as in no drugs) birth' So I have nothign to compare it to....BUT I didn't think Pit was that bad.

Good luck meeting your little man!

 

[designermv]

Can you ask your doctor to use Cervidil instead? It's FDA approved for cervical ripening, where Cytotec is used off-label (not FDA-approved as a labor drug.) Cytotec is used because it's cheaper.

 

[tzolkin]

I had misoprostol (cytotec) with my first child, but I had already been in labor for 44 hours or so at that time. (I also had pitocin with this birth.)

My third child was induced with cervadil. I went in and the doctor inserted the cervadil. Within about 20 minutes labor started, so no further induction was necessary. I had him within 4 hours of the cervadil.

Both were suppository-like and I did not feel/notice anything other than like a regular exam.

I have had pitocin after all three of my children. It is intended to intensify the contractions, so may lead to other drugs/epidural. I did not have any pain medications with any of my labors, but everyone will react differently.

The problem with induction is that it often leads to futher interventions because your body is just simply not ready to have the baby yet.

 

[mickeyboat]

I don't have any experience with Cytotec, but was induced with Pitocin. My body was definitely not ready to labor (at 34 weeks) and it was a long and tough labor and delivery.

I have heard of many people whose labors got started with Cervadil, though.

Good luck to you. Hopefully by this time tomorrow you will have met this little one.

Denae

 

[mjkacmom]

My first induction was at almost 42 weeks, cervadil followed by pitocin, never dilated, so I decided to go home 24 hours after the induction started - my water broke at home the next moring.

My second induction was at 41 weeks, 3 cm dilated, so no cervadil, took about 3 hours.

My third induction was at almost 38 weeks, cervacil because again, no dilation, pitocin all day, finally got to one that afternoon, so they could finally break my water (can't break it if you're not dilated), and I gave birth 31 hours after the induction started.

My twins were c/s.

Don't try to be a hero on pitocin - I was out of my mind with #1, because I didn't realize how painful it was going to be, and when I asked for an epi, I had to wait more than an hour, because no one was available to give me one. With #2, since I was already dilated, they put the epi in before my first contraction, so it was pain-free. My epidurals seemed to really speed my labor, plus I always gave birth soon after they catherized me!

Oh, and with #1, I didn't really contract with the cervadil, so I got to sleep in maternity, but I was having contractions with #3, so I had to spend the night in a hard labor bed hooked up to monitors.

 

[bumbershoot]

Really too bad American OBs and midwives are so afraid of long pregnancies. Hubby was a 44 week baby and was quite physically advanced! Under 9 lbs, too (unlike his "on time" brother who was 10 lbs, and born in MIL's small village with no OBs or midwives, just the support of her friends and the mothers in the village).


Anyway, cytotec is a stomach ulcer medication. It has NOT been studied for use in pregnant women (and I'm going to let the imagination run wild as to how I guess they figured out that it can help open a cervix...poor women getting medicine for stomach ulcers while pg), and is NOT approved for it. The main risk is uterine rupture...and if you're a woman who has never had uterine surgery, that's some nasty business. It's funny how OBs are so afraid of that with VBACs, when ruptures there happen along the scar and are NOT catastrophic on the main, the few times they happen, but they'll use a drug that can cause the same thing.

I'm sorry to be upsetting when you're so pg, but gosh, their use of that drug feels like malpractice to me.



I wasn't given the drugs being mentioned, but my pregnancy went long and my labor was long, and my midwives were very very angry with me, and I was talked into stupid stupid surgery... My guy was taken out at 42 weeks 3 days, and...had signs of prematurity (we had absolute, rock solid, dates of conception, b/c 1 week after "baby dancing" I was too nauseated to do anything more for a few months, and we hadn't been up to anything before, b/c I was so worried about not fitting into my wedding gown). I'll never let them force an otherwise baby healthy out again, and I hate that American birth professionals do it so often!

Good luck, have a lovely rest of your pregnancy, and try to stay away from unapproved, unstudied drugs.

 

[HelenePA]

My guy was taken out at 42 weeks 3 days, and...had signs of prematurity .

Again just wanting to make sure you know after 42wks the signs of prematurity are the same signs as of an aging placenta.

I am not sure what I had used in my first labor, but what ever it was was only supposed to ripen my cervix but put me into full blown labor I have had 4 inductions and 4 wonderful labors. I'd do it again in a heart beat.

 

[krcit]

I was induced with my last baby and it was no harder than my previous 2 births. Good luck!! just remember to push like you are going to the bathroom, lol-sometimes they don't tell you that but that's the trick!!

 

[catherinesmom]

The problem with Cytotec is that if it overstimulates the uterus, they can't remove it. Cervidil is designed for cervical ripening and can be removed if they need to. This can lead to other interventions, including c-section. This is nasty stuff that should NOT be used in labor. If you have to induce, make them use Cervidil.

From the labeling information for Cytotec (from the FDA's website): http://www.fda.gov/Cder/foi/label/2002/19268slr037.pdf


Labor and Delivery:
Cytotec can induce or augment uterine contractions. ******l administration of Cytotec, outside of its
approved indication, has been used as a cervical ripening agent, for the induction of labor and for
treatment of serious postpartum hemorrhage in the presence of uterine atony. A major adverse effect of
the obstetrical use of Cytotec is hyperstimulation of the uterus which may progress to uterine tetany with
marked impairment of uteroplacental blood flow, uterine rupture (requiring surgical repair, hysterectomy,
and/or salpingo-oophorectomy), or amniotic fluid embolism. Pelvic pain, retained placenta, severe
genital bleeding, shock, fetal bradycardia, and fetal and maternal death have been reported.
There may be an increased risk of uterine tachysystole, uterine rupture, meconium passage, meconium
staining of amniotic fluid, and Cesarean delivery due to uterine hyperstimulation with the use of higher
doses of Cytotec; including the manufactured 100 mcg tablet. The risk of uterine rupture increases with
advancing gestational ages and with prior uterine surgery, including Cesarean delivery. Grand multiparity
also appears to be a risk factor for uterine rupture.
The effect of Cytotec on the later growth, development, and functional maturation of the child when
Cytotec is used for cervical ripening or induction of labor have not been established. Information on
Cytotec’s effect on the need for forceps delivery or other intervention is unknown.

 

[HamTown]

I had Cytotec with DD1 and it worked beautifully. However, it worked fast, so if that makes you uncomfortable, I would try the Cervadil.

Cytotec (misoprostol) was developed as an anti-ulcer medication to be used with patients on anti-inflammatory drugs long term (think arthritis). However, in studies done in Brazil (I think) there were a high number of miscarriages while taking the drug. They figured out that the drug was causing the cervix to open. There is no ethical way to perform a controlled study to have this drug approved for this purpose by the FDA. Hence, the "off-label" status.

I loved Cytotec, much more so than the Pit I had with my first pregnancy. However, I would not use it if I had a previous C-section.

 

[Tink & Goofy]

I had cytotec when I had a miscarriage. Didn't work.
I had Cytotec twice to try and induce when DS was two weeks late. It doesn't work.

Go with cervidil or have them break your water.

 

[tcufrog]

My midwife used Cytotec at 42 weeks when labor didn't start even though my water had broken. Cytotec jump started contractions but they were huge and extremely close together. My midwife said they were so bad that she was shocked I didn't ask for pain meds. My doula was very good at distracting me and the whole experience was a blur. My cervix never dilated so I had to have a C-section.