Pitocin is the synthetic version of the hormone oxytocin, which is produced by pregnant women to cause the uterine contractions that precipitate childbirth. Pitocin is administered if a doctor determines that, for any of a number of reasons, labor needs to be induced artificially, or to hasten and ease a difficult labor.
There have been questions raised about the safety and possible extensive overuse of this drug. Because it is introduced to the bloodstream continuously rather than in the periodic bursts with which the body would naturally release oxytocin, the decreased placental bloodflow that occurs as a side effect of a contraction is prolonged, and could deprive the baby of oxygen. Pitocin can also potentially cause cervical lacerations, rupture of the uterus, postbirth hemorrhaging in the mother, and other problems.
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