How We Ended Up Flat On Our Backs- The Domino Effect of Interventions

The Natural Alternative to Intervention

Movement. Did you know lying on your back actually makes your pelvis smaller? It also makes it much more likely you’ll need an episiotomy or forceps or the vacuum to assist in your delivery. It is however more convenient for your doctor if you are lying down. Once you have been administered any drugs most hospitals require you to be hooked up to fetal monitoring 24/7 because you are now considered high-risk, hence wired-in bed restriction. Otherwise, should a woman in labor accommodate her doctor by lying down on the job? Dop! Standing, walking, squatting, moving your hips helps maneuver the baby…out!

The Domino Effect of Interventions             

 How can we expect a mom to follow her birth plan if her support is more comfortable with the path of intervention? Any time you tell a mother, especially one that is in labor, your baby could die if we don’t do this, of course the mom is going to do whatever you are asking/telling her to do.       

1. Begin first with Pitocin to quicken the pace of labor or administer an Epidural to help mom relax.
2. Downsides: Pitocin makes contractions longer, stronger, faster and closer together than they would be in a normal, natural, childbirth. 
3. Downsides: Epidurals slow down the process of labor.
4. So, if you started with an Epidural, doctors will want to give you Pitocin to quicken the pace. But that means you’ll probably need to up the epidural to deal with the increased pain.
5. If you started with Pitocin, they’ll want to administer the Epidural to help mom cope with the increased pain. But this will slow down your progress so you’ll need to up the Pitocin.
6. So guess what?! Let’s ping-pong back and forth between upping the Pitocin and upping the Epidural! It’s the domino/snowball effect, and once you start there’s no turning back.
7. Downside: Now your baby is going through the birth process faster and harsher than mother nature intended. The result:  your baby is being deprived oxygen and blood flow during these longer and stronger contractions… potentially causing your baby to go into distress.
8. All resulting in the growing statistic that your labor will end in a C-Section, Forceps or Vacuum delivery.

But Thank God the Doctors were there with all their interventions!!!

Let’s not forget all of the side-effects of these medications. Read this great article on the Pros and Cons of getting an epidural. Look especially at the effects on the fetus and newborn. The risks far outweigh the benefits for me.   

It doesn’t just end with Pitocin, here are some more drugs you should be aware of before going to the hospital… there is always a side effect.

*All cervical-ripening and induction agents can cause uterine hyperstimulation, which can negatively affect the blood supply to the fetus and increases the risk of complications such as uterine rupture.

Butorphanol (aka Stadol) Part of the Opioid Drug family. Used to manage pain during labor.

Side Effects: Vomiting and nausea are common.

Methergine (aka Methylergometrine) Properties similar to LSD. Used to prevent or control excessive bleeding following childbirth and to help deliver the placenta after childbirth.

Side Effects: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, dizziness, pulmonary hypertension, coronary artery vasoconstriction and severe systemic hypertension (especially in patients with preeclampsia)

Naloxone (aka Narcan, Nalone or Narcanti) Is a drug used to counter the effects of an opioid overdose.

Pitocin (aka Syntocinon or Oxytocin)

 Side Effects: Fetal distress- Overstimulated uterus, too frequent contractions, resulting in reduced ability of placenta/fetus to re-oxygenate and process waste products. This increases chances of Caesarean section.

Cervidil (aka  Prostin E₂, Propess or Glandin) Softens the cervix and causes uterine contractions.  

Side Effects: Ultimately induces fever. Which causes a string of tests to be done on your newborn to check for possible infection (that was never really there because your fever was caused by the drug in the first place).

Opioids Decreased perception of pain, decreased reaction to pain as well as increased pain tolerance.

Side Effects:  Sedation, respiratory depression,  nausea and vomiting, drowsiness, itching, dry mouth, miosis, and constipation.

Yutopar (aka Ritodrine) Used to stop premature labor.

Side Effects:  Increase in heart rate, rise in systolic pressure, decrease in diastolic pressure, chest pain secondary to MI, and arrhythmia. The passage of beta-agonists through the placenta does occur and may be responsible for fetal tachycardia, as well as hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia at birth.

Hemabate (aka Carboprost)  Induces contractions and can trigger abortion in early pregnancy. It also reduces postpartum bleeding.

Side Effects: Exert caution in asthmatic patients. The most common side effect is diarrhea, which may be sudden in onset.

Meperidine (Pethidine or Demerol)  A fast acting opioid used to moderate pain.

Side Effects: Nausea, vomiting, sedation, dizziness, diaphoresis, urinary retention and constipation.

Brethine (aka Terbutaline, Bricanyl, or Brethaire) A treatment for premature labor, however, its not approved by the FDA 

Side Effects: Maternal – tachycardia, nervousness, tremors, headache, hyperglycemia, hypokalemia, and rarely, pulmonary edema. Fetal – tachycardia and hypoglycemia.

Procardia  (aka Nifedipine, Adalat or Nifedical) Used in premature labor.

Side Effects: Rapidly lowers blood pressure, and patients are commonly warned they may feel dizzy or faint after taking the first few doses. Tachycardia (fast heart rate) may occur as a reaction.

Misoprostol  (aka Cytotec) Used for early abortion, to treat missed miscarriage, and to induce labor. However, in 2000 the manufacturer distributed a letter warning against the use of misoprostol in pregnant women.

Side Effects: In addition to citing the abortifacient nature of the drug, the letter cited reports of uterine rupture and death associated with using misoprostol to induce labor.

There is frankly so much to talk about here, if you want to learn more about a drug free delivery check out the Bradley Method. Joe and I will definitely be taking these classes to prepare us for a natural childbirth. Just check out the price difference for this 12-week class compared to some of the other options. You will be amazed! Find an instructor in your area by clicking here.