[2curlygirls]

I'm not an L&D nurse but I work with them a lot as part of a ped's team.
I've heard such horrific things about Cytotec yet our hospital (which is a very well known teaching and research facility) still uses it regularly. They just participated in a multi-center study on it's use.
I'm confused. I've heard other places are disciplining providers for using it etc. Can someone shed some light on this subject? Thanks!

[Spidey's mom]

Where did you hear that cytotec is "horrific"?

What is the definition of "horrific" in relation to cytotec?

steph

[mitchsmom]

I'm not the OP, but I know what she's talking about. I used to hear bad things about Cytotec on pregnancy boards and stuff all the time.
As a pregnant person, it doesn't look too great when you read the FDA page:
http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopag...ol/default.htm

[2curlygirls]

I guess it's link to uterine rupture??? Uterine hyper-stim (which I realize can be caused by other cervical ripeners too).
I'm just a pregnant NICU nurse who's trying to educate myself on more things L&D. People on other pregnancy boards are visciously anti-Cytotec and I'm kinda trying to get both sides of the story I guess. So please bear with me if I ask lot's of questions.
"curly" -due soon!

[SmilingBluEyes]

ANYtime you mess with nature, you risk complications, and in VERY rare cases, catastrophic outcomes. I have, however, observed cytotec, when used judiciously and in low-risk situations, "relatively" safe. Meaning? Well, it's best to let Mother Nature to do her thing, always. But if you have health problems that make labor ripening or induction beneficial, to the point where such benefits outweigh risks, you may want to consider it. But if it's just for "maternal discomfort" or "social" reasons, you may want to refuse.

Please have this conversation with your doctor or midwife. He/she is the most-qualified to reach a decision in collaboration with you, as to what is the best path to take. There is certainly something to be said for waiting and letting your body do what it is designed to, if you are healthy and there are no problems w/the pregnancy or your baby. Please do not turn this into a medical advice thread-----the internet is not the best place to get such advice.

Thanks for understanding, and good luck. I hope you have a joyous and safe birth experience.

[Spidey's mom]

Originally Posted by SmilingBluEyes

ANYtime you mess with nature, you risk complications, and in VERY rare cases, catastrophic outcomes. I have, however, observed cytotec, when used judiciously and in low-risk situations, "relatively" safe. Meaning? Well, it's best to let Mother Nature to do her thing, always. But if you have health problems that make labor ripening or induction beneficial, to the point where such benefits outweigh risks, you may want to consider it. But if it's just for "maternal discomfort" or "social" reasons, you may want to refuse.

Please have this conversation with your doctor or midwife. He/she is the most-qualified to reach a decision in collaboration with you, as to what is the best path to take. There is certainly something to be said for waiting and letting your body do what it is designed to, if you are healthy and there are no problems w/the pregnancy or your baby. Please do not turn this into a medical advice thread-----the internet is not the best place to get such advice.

Thanks for understanding, and good luck. I hope you have a joyous and safe birth experience.

Well said.


steph

[2curlygirls]

Thanks guys. It was not my intention to seek for medical advice, I was just wondering what you though of the contraversy of Cytotec, if anything.

[SmilingBluEyes]

It's not so controversial as it used to be.....(well the discussion of labor induction versus allowing natural labor to ensue, aside). Its off-label use was called into question, but then, so many drugs are used off-label, really. It's a case of really being sure benefits outweigh risks, in the end, as in any drug or herbal therapy.

Policies are in place in most institutions that really pin down how/when and on whom to use ripening agents like cytotec to reduce dangers/risks of their uses....

[RNnL&D]

SBE said it best, as always.

Cytotec got a really bad rep when, IMO, it was being terribly misused. In most facilities, there are protocols for it's use. And, when used appropriately, it is beneficial as a cervical ripening agent for a medically necessary induction. And, as mentioned earlier, all cervical ripening/induction agents have the same potential adverse reactions.

As far as the controversy goes, I'm sorry that there are still so many scary stories out there for pg women. But, we all know that when people want to share labor/birth stories, they always seem to want to share the horrific ones. I always explain the risks involved with whatever induction agent we are using, and explain to my patients what precautions we take to avoid them.

[tinyscrafts]

http://stopcytotec.com/WECAN_STOP_CYTOTEC.php
http://www.tatia.org/
http://inamay.com/view_article.php?A...&page_number=1

I'm extremely behind on this but i'm really surprised there isn't more discussion on this. Ask your childbirth educators and they will tell you it is controversial (if not stronger words). I can't wait to read what Henci Goer says about it in her next edition of obstetric myths vs. research realities.

My question is if a baby dies with a cytotec induction HOW on earth can they defend themselves when the searle letter is paraded around in front of a jury? I know most lawsuits are settled out of court but I would think that thought would be enough to stop docs from using it. There are alternatives after all.