Oxytocin, as its name implies, stimulates uterine contraction and accelerates the process of labor. The pregnant uterus is very sensitive to oxytocin, and estrogen can increase the sensitivity of the uterus to oxytocin. Oxytocin is a peptide hormone secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. It consists of 9 amino acids and is transported to the neurohypophysis for release at a rate of 2-3 mm per day.
Oxytocin is commonly found in men, women, and mammals. It can also reduce the level of stress hormones such as adrenal ketone in the human body to reduce blood pressure.
Do you have to play oxytocin to give birth?
Under normal circumstances, most expectant mothers do not need to use oxytocin, because the pituitary gland of the human brain can secrete oxytocin, which will directly act on the myometrium of the expectant mother, promote and strengthen uterine contraction, and thus promote the delivery of the fetus from the mother.
So when do I need oxytocin? It is only necessary when abnormal conditions occur during labor.
1. Expectant mothers with weak or discordant uterine contractions
There are many reasons for the uncoordinated and weak contractions of expectant mothers. Among them, there are two common ones that require oxytocin: 1) the signs of labor appear at night. Although the frequency of uterine contractions at this time is rare and the duration is short, many expectant mothers will stay up all night because of tension and pain. When there is a real uterine contraction in the daytime, there is no spirit and physical strength, so it is easy to have insufficient uterine contraction intensity (i.e. uterine contraction is weak) or uterine contraction is not coordinated, which is not enough to push the fetus to the vagina, and it is not easy to expand the cervix. This will not only prolong the labor process but also may lead to postpartum hemorrhage. 2) There are also some expectant mothers who are physically exhausted in the process of labor, which may also lead to secondary uterine contraction uncoordinated and uterine contraction asthenia. At this time, it is necessary to give the expectant mother a drop of oxytocin to strengthen the labor force and make the labor process smooth.
However, if the expectant mother suffers from uterine weakness or incongruous uterine contraction due to improper fetal position and uterine deformity, she cannot be induced by oxytocin. In most cases, she needs to be delivered by cesarean section.
2. Early breaking water expectant mother
In most cases, water rupture occurs during childbirth, when the uterine mouth is nearly open. If the expectant mother breaks the water in advance, but there is no uterine contraction, it is called premature rupture of membranes, commonly known as premature rupture of water, and it also needs a drop of oxytocin, which can induce the expectant mother's uterine spontaneous uterine contraction. When expectant mothers have effective contractions (once every 3 minutes, lasting for 30 seconds), they can stop using oxytocin.
3. Expectant mothers with intrauterine hypoxia
Before term pregnancy, if the fetus is suspected of intrauterine hypoxia, the doctor will conduct an oxytocin drip test to assess the tolerance of the fetus to uterine contraction.
After oxytocin is used, if the fetal heart rate of the child is less than 120 times/min as soon as the expectant mother has a uterine contraction, it indicates that the child is anoxic and intolerant to uterine contraction, so it is necessary to carry out cesarean section as soon as possible; If the child's fetal heart rate is normal at the time of uterine contraction, it indicates that the assessment of fetal hypoxia is incorrect, and the expectant mother can continue to wait for natural labor.
4. Expectant mothers who need manual intervention to terminate a pregnancy
For some reasons, such as prolonged pregnancy, oligohydramnios, etc., the fetus is not suitable to continue to wait in the uterus, but it cannot meet the conditions for cesarean section, so it needs a drop of oxytocin to induce uterine contraction. During the whole process of oxytocin infusion, special personnel is required to monitor. In case of abnormality, a cesarean section may be required immediately.
5. Mother after childbirth
Whether it is a natural or Caesarean birth, the doctor will give oxytocin after the birth. The purpose is to strengthen the uterine contraction, let the placenta peel out, and can compress the open blood vessels in the uterine wall to prevent blood outflow, which is conducive to postpartum hemostasis and recovery of the body. If the cervical condition is not good, the fetus will be blocked in the cervical canal. However, driven by strong uterine contraction, the fetus will break through the barrier, tear the cervix and even tear the uterine body. The new mother will face postpartum hemorrhage or even a hysterectomy.
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