search:

Re: One more reference on Cytotec & Pit

From: William D. McIntosh, MD (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Mon, 15 Feb 1999 11:17:20 -0600 (CST)

At Sun, 14 Feb 1999, Amy wrote: >
>Sorry, I forgot this in the previous post, but it is also worth
>considering. Marshal Klaus is an MD, and author of several books about
>bonding, doulas, etc. This and the references on the previous posts
>come from people on birth-related mailing lists:
>
>Here are two points I can't document, but you might ask a medical
>librarian (or run a medline) to find out about.
>At the l997 DONA conference, Marshall Klaus MD spoke about the
>difference in the mother's experience when she is producing a lot of her
>own oxytocin, vs. when she's receiving oxytocin from outside her body.
>Endogenous oxytocin is produced in the pituitary gland in the brain, and
>although much of it goes out into the bloodstream and makes
>contractions, some of it stays in the brain and raises the woman's pain
>threshold. Pretty convenient system, as her body makes more
>contractions and they get more painful, her pain threshold rises.
>Aritificial oxytocin - Pitocin - goes in thru a vein and can't cross the
>blood brain barrier, so the mom gets more pain without raising her pain
>threshold. Ow.
>About cytotec, a nurse-midwife friend told me she won't use cytotec on a
>mom who'se working toward a VBAC. Cytotec is thought to soften
>collagen. It's used to soften the cervix for inductions, but the mom's
>circulation to her cervix is so close to her circulation to her cesarean
>scar, my friend would rather not chance the cytotec softening her scar
>too.
>
>--
>Amy
>Provisional Birthworks Childbirth Educator
>Provisional Birthworks Doula
>

I hesitate to continue with this thread, as I do not wish to get into a midwife/obstetrician flame war. I do not want to give any offense, but I performed a Medline search for Dr. Klaus and Dr.(?, Ms.) Odent to try and get a handle on what they have written. Dr. Klaus has nothing listed whatsoever, though Medline would not list any books that he has written. Michele Odent has several articles published in widwifery journals, almost entirely letters to the editor and essays on childbirth, with no

I don't wish to cast any aspersions on these no doubt highly qualified individuals, but if you are going to charge that pitocin is somehow so awful, I will need to read the actual controlled prospective research that that opinion is based on. I can state that the moon is green cheese, but I cannot expect you to believe me unless I actually go there and see. My personal opinion is not evidence, it is simply prejudice. I am willing to be persuaded, but I will need evidence to do so. 

--
William D. McIntosh, MD
Clarksville, TN


This is for educational purposes only.  It is not intended
 to replace consultation and examination by your physician
 or other health care provider.



recommended search...
Google
OBGYN.net forums endometriosis zone Web
use when must restrict search to only the pregnancy & birth forum...
Enter search keywords:
Returns per screen: Require all keywords:
Return to [ Pregnancy & Birth Forum ] Report TECHNICAL Problems ONLY to: webmaster@obgyn.net
Last Updated: Thu Jun 18 14:25:18 2009

Women's Insurance Checklist from Auto Insurance Quote

home | medical professionals | women | industry | forums | international
e-mail | about us | advertising | our sponsors | contact us | disclaimer |

This information is provided for educational purposes only.
Please read the disclaimer. ©1996-2008, all rights reserved.
Do not reproduce without permission of MediSpecialty.com