Oxytocin drip after birth?

[IVEgottheDECAF]

I am currently expecting dc5 and have been told after the birth i will be put on an oxytocin drip for 4 hours to help uterus contract and minimise risk of pph (i think)

Does anyone have any experience of this?

Did you have PPH after previous births? It sounds like a sensible precaution. Sorry, no actual experiences to relate!

No i didnt just normal blood loss

I had this after my csection. It was an emergency one so not sure if that made a difference

What was it like thesnobbymiddleclassone? Does it hurt?

I was going to ask if you were stuck in bed on it but if you had a section you would be anyway i suppose

I had it after pph last time. It doesn't hurt at all. I wasn't given pain relief, didn't need it. Just sat and cuddled my baby. The worst thing was that they wouldn't let me go for a shower until the drip was finished.

I think once you hit "grand multiparity" your uterus is not as contractile and this does indeed prevent PPH.

I had one with DC1 (long labour, slightly traumatic but in the end ok birth) because they were worried about how much blood I’d lost. Hardly noticed it, fed DC1, then he fell asleep and I had a bath.

I had this with DC4. It made me vomit dramatically, until I had an injection for sickness. Kind of spoiled the whole new baby snuggles and tea and toast bit!

I was stuck bed but didn't feel anything due to the drugs. The next day has period type cramps which was probably from the drip

I ended up with it after dc5.

I had actually agreed with my consultant it wasn't needed as I'd had minimal blood loss with previous 5 births &, aside from parity I had no other risk factors. It was written in my notes but unfortunately because it was baby number 5 the senior mw delivered baby & decided to overrule the decision. It wasn't that bad, more irritating because they'd put the cannula in my left hand in an awkward place (I'm left handed) so it was a faff manoeuvring baby etc.

Will i not be able to get cleaned up and in nice pjs and stuff before it goes on? Is it literally in straight away? Does it take 4 hours? Can you get up and go to the toilet etc?

Mine went on straight away (I was induced for IUGR, so was on the drip anyway), I did get changed at somepoint with it on, dh helped (as I say it was a faff) & I went for a wee too as it's just on a normal drip so can be wheeled. I waited until after it was out & baby had had a good long feed & lots of skin to skin before going for a bath but they had offered to run me one before that but I didn't fancy trying to wash my very long hair with it in.

It didn't hurt or anything, it was the inconvenience I didn't like.

I think it was on for about 3:45, the mw popped in again just as was getting up for another wee & she said it was fine for her to disconnect it. So I don't think it has to be exactly 4 hours/ the full bag.

Ty for the answers all

Standard amongst many trusts for women who get to 5 deliveries, as they’re at a higher risk of PPH.

You’ll be cannulated when you go in and then they’ll start the drip as soon as you’ve delivered. You’ll barely notice it, won’t stop you having a wash or having a wee, ask the MW to pause it for 2 minutes when you want to pull a pj top over your head.