(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Below is a list of the drugs and/or medical procedures that you may be subject to during your pregnancy, childbirth and while nursing.

There are risks involved with every medical intervention.  Your physician should  be willing to discuss these potential risks with you.
Your physician should discuss how these drugs interfere with labor and birth and the potential affects to the newborn.

Note:  There is presently no law that requires a physician or medical personnel to report any adverse affects of  any drugs or medical procedures to the FDA.  Reporting adverse reactions to drugs prescribed during pregnancy and childbirth is at the discretion of the attending physician and/or medical personnel.

Routine Analgesics used during Labor

Note: An analgesic is a systematic pain medication that enters both the maternal and fetal blood stream.

Dilaudid, Stadol, Nubain

 FDA Reports

Dilaudid–  is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers, also called opioids. It is similar to morphine.   FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby, and could cause addiction or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Dilaudid can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Stadol – FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Butorphanol is sometimes used during early labor, but using it just before childbirth can cause breathing problems in a newborn.

Butorphanol passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use butorphanol without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Nubain– Use during labor and delivery

FDA Report:  The placental transfer of nalbuphine is high, rapid, and variable with a maternal to fetal ratio ranging from

1:0.37 to 1:6. Fetal and neonatal adverse effects that have been reported following the administration of

nalbuphine to the mother during labor include fetal bradycardia, respiratory depression at birth, apnea,

cyanosis and hypotonia. Maternal administration of naloxone during labor has normalized these effects in

some cases. Severe and prolonged fetal bradycardia has been reported. Permanent neurological damage

attributed to fetal bradycardia has occurred. A sinusoidal fetal heart rate pattern associated with the use of nalbuphine has also been reported. NUBAIN should be used during labor and delivery only if clearly indicated

and only if the potential benefit outweighs the risk to the infant. *Newborns should be monitored for respiratory depression, apnea, bradycardia, and arrhythmias if NUBAIN has been used.

*Newborn:  Prolonged sleepiness, respiratory depression at birth, slow heartrate-neurological damage

Pitocin – Pitocin is an off-label Drug used to artificially induce labor.  That means that the FDA has not officially approved its usage during labor.  The drug is approved for induced abortions and assisting the expulsion of the placenta after delivery.

See the following reports on this drug:

PDR Report:  Physician’s Desk Reference

drugs.com – Pitocin Side Effects

*The rate of induction of labor is on the increase in the United States.  Please view the following link to understand the risks involved.  A spontaneous natural labor is safer for both the mother and her baby.  There are few reasons that validate a medically induced labor.  What you don’t know can hurt both you and your baby.

Mother’s Advocate on Induced Labor

Pitocin and Autism
Is there a link between the use of Pitocin in labor and Autism?  Read the following article:

Is Pitocin Associated with Childhood Autism?

For a comprehensive report concerning these drugs and/or procedures please view the following Links.

Physicians’ Desk Reference 

The Food and Drug Administration

Drugs.Com 

For a Healthier and Safer Birth View the Information on Mother’s Advocate:

http://www.mothersadvocate.org/

Related articles

• The Birth Interview Project | Emily’s Medically Indicated Induction w/out Epidural (thejoyofthis.com)

• Doctors, Choices, Homebirths (singlemomontherun.com)