Cytotec

I've just learned that you covered Cytotec ("Induced and Seduced," July-August 2001), and I wanted to share with you my story. My son Steven was born at home--with Cytotec.

My first two children were born by cesarean. During my third pregnancy, I decided to have my baby at home and in searching for a caregiver was referred to "one of the best" midwives in Michigan, who had a 100 percent VBAC record in over 400 births.

Impressed, my husband and I drove up to meet her. Even at the first visit, the idea of using Cytotec came up. The name was not used; I was simply told that she and her midwife partners had a pill that successfully started labor. Because I lived six hours away, the midwives were originally going to have me take the pill home and insert it into my cervix so that I would be in labor when they arrived.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized my apprehensions about the pill. My midwife reassured me, saying, "It is perfectly safe."

To make a long story short, the midwives arrived around my due date, and Cytotec was inserted. About five hours later, labor kicked in. I experienced very intense back labor during transition. Because I supposedly had a low pubic arch and the baby was in a compound position, I ended up "alley-ooped" in the McRobert's position with my knees up to my ears, fundal pressure applied twice after a mere ten minutes of pushing, and my baby torqued out. I was told I had a normal birth.

For the longest time after Steven's birth, I had nothing but praise for the attending midwives. When my baby was a couple months old, however, we purchased a computer, and I learned about the side effects of Cytotec my midwives neglected to mention, such as ruptures, hyperstimulation of the uterus, fetal distress, and fetal death. One site had a warning stating the drug was not to be used on pregnant women! I learned that Cytotec was definitely not recommended for women with prior uterine surgery.

I wrote to my midwives, sending them studies and asking questions about the interventions. They responded that without them I would have ended up with another cesarean. As for the Cytotec, I was told, "The only side effect is maternal contractions." I was also told to quit second-guessing and to "lighten up."

Lighten up? I became angry instead. I am also sad and dismayed to find other midwives using Cytotec in homebirths. Women choose midwifery to get far away from obstetrics and certainly don't expect Cytotec to be a part of that picture, especially not in a homebirth.

I had a Cytotec-induced uterine rupture with my second child. It was an attempted VBAC and a terrible experience. The doctors decided to induce me a few days before my due date because they did not want the baby to get too big. (My first child was 10 pounds, 6 ounces.) First they used prostaglandin gel and then Cytotec. After about 12 hours of labor, the doctor insisted on a C-section because I was bleeding heavily and the contractions were very strong and irregular.

I want to have one more child, and I would like advice from people who would not have given me Cytotec. What are the possibilities of having a VBAC with my history? I do not want to endanger the child or myself. Are there any midwives or doctors in Arizona who would attempt a VBAC with me? Anywhere else? Is it a foolishly dangerous idea? What are the sensible precautions to take?

COPYRIGHT 2002 Mothering Magazine
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group