ABCs of pregnancy: O is for…
July 26, 2008 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Women's Health
O is also for:
Obstetrician: A doctor whose specialty is caring for pregnant women and delivering babies.
Obstructed labor: If your labor is slowing down or has even stopped, this would be called obstructed labor
Oxytocin (Pitocin): Oxytocin is the generic name of a drug that is given, by intravenous, to help start or intensify labor contractions. Pitocin is the brand name.
Image: MorgueFile.com
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Oxytocin reduces blood loss after delivery
July 2, 2008 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Women's Health
Oxytocin, a medication given to stimulate labor is also used to prevent hemorrhage or bleeding after birth. New research is showing that using oxytocin regularly after natural birth reduces the total amount of blood loss and reduces the risk of hemorrhage.
You can read more about this in the article New Training for Doctors to Reduce Postpartum Bleeding, which also discusses the efforts to reduce episiotomies, or the surgical cutting of tissue between the vagina and the anus in an attempt to prevent tearing as the baby is born.
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