The use of synthetic oxytocin (Pitocin) during labor is hardly uncommon, but it's what you might call a controversial topic. Some believe its risks outweigh its benefits, some believe it's merely used as a convenience for the mother, some believe it's both a legitimate birthing choice and, in many cases, a medical necessity. Whatever your personal opinion about Pitocin may be, an Iowa hospital must be second-guessing their decision to use it during one woman's birth five years ago -- since they just paid out $3.75 million to settle a lawsuit for the problems the drug allegedly caused.
Jonathon and Martha Fountain of Iowa City filed the lawsuit against University of Iowa hospital, claiming that the use of Pitocin during their son's birth caused permanent brain injuries. The hospital denied all claims of negligence … but the fact that they agreed to pay a multimillion dollar settlement certainly makes you wonder.
Five years ago, Martha Fountain went to the University of Iowa near the end of her normal full-term pregnancy. According to her lawsuit, UIHC staff gave her Pitocin without determining whether her naturally occurring contractions were too frequent or too strong, and she went on to have a 28-hour labor -- prolonged, she says, "due to excessive contractions."
The lawsuit claims that she continued to receive Pitocin despite later recordings that showed "significant trauma" to the baby's head, which was having difficulty descending into the birth canal. The baby boy was eventually delivered through a C-section, and was found to have severe brain injuries.
Today the boy is 5 years old, and suffers from cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and other serious health conditions.
The university's lawyers said the child's brain injuries were likely caused by other factors, and that the notion that excessive contractions can cause brain injuries to babies "is not supported by scientific evidence." The family's lawyer, however, claims there are a growing number of cases in which Pitocin prolonged delivery and caused "a lack of blood flow to the baby's brain."
While the hospital denied any wrongdoing, they must have felt like it was in their best interest to avoid going to trial. Settling is not an admission of guilt, of course, but it leaves me with an uneasy feeling about this story. What really happened? Could a prolonged labor have really caused this child's brain injuries? Is there any way to know if the Pitocin actually had a negative effect on the situation? How does this information fit with the prevailing opinion that a C-section should be avoided at all costs, even if labor is dragging on?
For every childbirth horror story, there are a ton of perfectly normal, healthy births that don't end up in the news because, well, they're not particularly newsworthy. And there's no doubt that Pitocin can be a lifesaving intervention for both mother and baby.
Still, this is a hell of a medical malpractice settlement, and one that makes you wonder how hospital childbirth policies regarding Pitocin might change in the future. Whether for good or for bad, it's anyone's guess.
What do you think about this story? Do you think it's possible the baby really was damaged from 'excessive' Pitocin-triggered contractions?
Image via aaron_anderer/Flickr
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Comments 40
Pitocin causes far more damage than that sometimes. It, like all other medical interventions related to birth should only be used in emergencies.
As the writer says, for every bad experience there are 10 that are fine. I am one of these. My was 8 days past my due date and didn't have a single contraction! My daughter was nearly 100% effaced but I was only dialated about a centimeter. We went in for our scheduled induction at 41 weeks and 1 day. They broke my water and started me on Pitocin. Yes, the contractions were strong, but not having had my own, I can't compare. Olivia was born after just 6 hours of induced labor, only 1 of which was pushing!
So, do I think Pitocin is evil, in my situation, no. But I don't agree with it being given too early or without good reason. In my situation, labor wasn't starting on its own and we were getting to a point that might be dangerious for my daughter. If she had a bowel movement, she could have died. Or if she had gotten any bigger (she was 9 lbs 2 oz), I might have had to have a C-Section.
I do find this situation odd, that after a few years, they couple sued. Now, maybe the suit was pending or something. I don't know if excessive contractions could cause brain damage, I don't think it is out of the realm of possibility and really 28 hour of labor is a bit excessive! I hope this money will go towards their child and if it helps him, that is all that matters!
Think about it...the process of giving birth is a HUGE thing for a woman's body...why the hurry? Rushing the body, to do something it's not ready for isn't right...all this "we figured out your due date and you're LATE so we have to induce" is a bunch of hooey!
Birth, and the body's preparation for birth is a process...labor can take DAYS, the body needs to ripen...why the hurry? Try peeling a green bananna...then see how easy it is to peel a ripe one...your body has wisdom and a time, whether or not you understand it. Yes, I know you are tired of being pregnant by the very end...but unless there is actual, real serious issues...let your body ripen and open slowly, as it should.
...and all this "oh I was effaced, I was dialated, but nothing was happening"...do you really think you would be pregnant FOREVER? Your body, is slowly opening...it takes time...perhaps this is why so many indiginous cultures have low or pain free births...they allow the body to happen slowly...you being dialated for a month is your body preparing itslef to open in a HUGE way...rushing the process isn't serving you.
I had pitocin with my first child and it is evil. The monitors couldn't tell I was having contractions so they gave me ptiocin. It was so painful. Wuth my son born almost four years later, I had him all natural. They wanted me to get ptiocin because the monitor wasn't picking up the contractions but I could surely feel them. I refused and had the nurse check my progress, I had been there less than two hours and I went from 6 to 9 cenimeters. So no pitocin for me. Thank goodness. They really wanted me to because of the moniter not picking up contractions.
I think bottom line the hospitals need to be more stingy with drugs! I've only had pitocin once out of 4 pregnancies because I had the epidural (again, only made that mistake once) and it had stopped my labor. The fact that they are so eager to pass out drugs is ridiculous. I think women should be more educated about the possible dangers of these drugs ALL of them. I have 4 children and my husband had a daughter when we met and his daughter and my oldest son were both products of epidural/pitocin and they are now 9 and 7 and have severe behavioral issues whereas my other 3 are extremely well behaved, mellow, happy go lucky kids (and were amazing babies). I think they need to realize that giving women drugs during labor may have more consequences than they let on. Had I known the TRUE risk of these prior to my first delivery I would've never had any drugs like I did for my other 3 children.
Univ. of Iowa hospital is one of the largest (if not THE largest) in Iowa. Of course they settled out of court to keep media attention away. I dont agree with a lot of what was said. Pitocin is many times a necessary evil. But all you "medical professionals" out here obviously know better than the REAL medical professionals. I get so sick of seeing people bash nurses and doctors. I mean seriously if we are all SO SO bad then why even go to the doctor or hospital since everything we do is for our convenience and not for your benefit. You may get the rare doctor or nurse that really are inconsiderate and dont care about your welfare but MOST of us actually care and are trying to do what is best for you!