
I am sure you have heard many birth stories where the women could not dilate past 1 or 2 centimeters, despite hours of pitocin aumentation. I have. In the 11 years I spent as a Chapter Leader for Macomb (MI) Birthnetwork, I have heard hundreds of birth stories, and many sounded like this: Labor began spontaneously with the uterus continuing to contract in a normal labor pattern but the cervix never dilated. OR labor was induced with prostaglandin gel (or cytotec) over night to soften the cervix, with plans for getting pitocin the next day to open the cervix. When the cervix was opened to 2-4 cms, the next procedure is to artificially break the amniotic sac. This would help intensify contractions with the hopes of progressing the labor. Except the cervix never opens. Sometimes, it doesn't open more than 2cm. (Diagnosis: FTP or failure to progress, Csection delivery!)
Some of these women never felt much discomfort from the pitocin, others needed an epidural after hearing they were still 2cms after working so hard with labor pains but no progress.
Some of these women never felt much discomfort from the pitocin, others needed an epidural after hearing they were still 2cms after working so hard with labor pains but no progress.