For the moms who were induced (or not): does the Pitocin also increase the pain level of contractions during labor as well versus the pain of contractions without it? (Just curious as I was planning an unmedicated birth, but I was put on high levels of Pitocin for a 33+ hour labor because I was not dilating.. the contractions were too painful so I got an epidural, and I was wondering for future pregnancies if I don’t get induced if I would be able to do it without an epidural)
@curious.george, @kambam, That is awesome ladies that you were able to go natural! Not counting out epidural (because that saved me 😬), but definitely want to try natural the next time!
No I didn't get anything. No epi, no pitocin. Would have been so bad with pitocin
@kambam, So you didn’t get an epidural even with the Pitocin? Yeah, I think I made mine worse by freaking out in my mind and not relaxing. Thankfully my hubby was there to remind me to even breathe!
@curious.george, Oh wow, I see. That is crazy that you couldn’t get an epidural for your second! Thinking back to the pain I was feeling, I could not imagine not being able to get an epidural 😱😱 How long were you in labor for when you went natural?
@olivbee, Ohhh okay. That makes so much sense! Thank you for that info, gives me hope for my future pregnancies, because I really didn’t want to get an epidural and wanted to go as natural as possible! And I thought I would have been able to endure the labor pains because my pain tolerance is pretty high I think
When the water breaks you lose a lot of cushioning so to speak. So the contractions are stronger. Add that with pitocin and it's just so much. My labor was already painful and I didn't have anything so I can't imagine. It really does take time, patience and relaxation to progress.
@modom16, Now that you mentioned it, I think that’s when it started being extremely painful for me too! After my water broke, if I remember correctly..
@tinyhumansbitch, Oh I see, for me the Pitocin took a long time for me to dilate that they even had to give me a break from it and increased it even more after 😞
@kambam, That makes sense, yeah they inserted the balloon the day before and it only but dilated me so much, I think my body was just taking its time
I read an article after I was induced that was saying about how when you go into labor naturally, your body is able to release hormones to help with the pain & your tolerance to it whereas when you’re induced with pitocin your body doesn’t. I went into labor naturally & was induced & by comparison the contractions from pitocin were much more painful
Pitocin definitely makes it stronger. I'd say just go natural as possible. There's other ways to try and get dilated before resorting to the pit.
@valeriahiraldo30, Here are some responses to the same question you had