Study finds adverse effects of pitocin in newborns.

Researchers found that induction and augmentation of labor with oxytocin was an independent risk factor for unexpected admission to the NICU lasting more than 24 hours for full-term infants. Augmentation also correlated with Apgar scores of fewer than seven at five minutes. The Apgar is a test that evaluates a newborn’s physical condition at one and five minutes after birth based on appearance (skin coloration), pulse (heart rate), grimace response (medically known as “reflex irritability”), activity and muscle tone, and respiration (breathing rate and effort). A baby who scores eight and above is generally considered to be in good health. Read more.

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Posted by Patty Brennan on December 10, 2013 • Filed under
Comments (2)

Comments

2 Responses to “Study finds adverse effects of pitocin in newborns.”

  1. Delia on December 10th, 2013 at 10:34 pm:

    Might the author have meant Pitocin, rather than oxytocin?

  2. Patty Brennan on December 10th, 2013 at 11:18 pm:

    Yes, the author should have said pitocin, a synthetic version of the hormone oxytocin.