There's no actual level of Pitocin that people typically get epidural.
Although epidurals are often given during active labor which can be triggered by Pitocin, although the timing is also more closely tied to your dilation and pain level instead of just a set dosage of pitocin.
Some women get their epidural at 9 cm dilated.
It can take around 40 minutes after you start pitocin before you begin to see evidence of contractions.
Pitocin can be safe for many women although it does come with some risk as Pitocin can disrupt the natural hormonal balance of labor, which can lead to more intense and even possibly problematic contractions.
It could potentially cause harm to both you as the mother and your baby.
Pitocin is commonly used to induce or augment labor, but it does come with some risks and side effects.
Pitocin bypasses your body's natural regulation of oxytocin, which can result in contractions which can be too strong or too frequent or even too long, which can compromise the baby's supply of oxygen.
And pitocin can also increase the likelihood of other interventions such as instrumental deliveries "vacuum or forceps" or even epidurals and cesarean sections.
And overstimulation of your uterus with Pitocin can also cause fetal heart rate de-accelerations and distress and require immediate intervention, such as stopping the Pitocin or performing of a cesarean section.
The reason why Pitocin contractions hurt more is because the contractions are being artificially induced and so your body does not respond in the same way as it would with normal contractions.
Pitocin is a synthetic form of the hormone called oxytocin and is used for inducing or even augmenting labor contractions and it can make the contractions feel worse.
You can dilate faster after Pitocin by keeping hydrated, drinking enough water, maintaining an upright and also mobile position and use some warm compresses or counter pressure.
Also using relaxation techniques such as focused breathing, can also help you manage pain and promote a smoother labor.
Staying active and changing your positions during labor can also help your baby descend and encourage dilation.
The gravity can assist with the fetal positioning and movement can also stimulate contractions.
Even walking, swaying or using a birthing ball can also help you dilate faster.
Applying of a warm compresses or use of counter pressure on your lower back can also help you manage pain and relax the muscles around your cervix which can also help make dilation easier.
Dilation is just one of the factors in determining if you need to be admitted for labor and delivery.
Doctors also consider the strength of the contractions as well as the frequency of your contractions as well as the status of the water breaking and your overall well being and your baby's overall well being when deciding whether or not to admit you for labor and delivery.
3cm dilation during pregnancy is considered the beginning of early labor, and this phase can also last for hours or even days as your cervix gradually dilates to 6cm.
The point at which hospitals often admit you to the hospital for labor and delivery is when you're in active labor, which is when your cervix is dilating more rapidly, which is often 6cm or beyond.
If your contractions are not strong enough or not regular, or if you and the baby are stable, then you might be sent home to continue early labor at home.
The contractions intensity and frequency are key indicators of active labor and if contractions are not painful enough or consistent enough to indicate active labor then you will often be sent home, even when you're 3 cm dilated.
You can go from 3cm to 10 cm within 4 hours to 8 hours.
However the time it takes for you to dilate and go from 3cm to 10 cm during labor can also vary, but 4 to 8 hours is average.
This phase of labor is also referred to as active labor and your cervix often dilates at a rate of about 1 centimeter per hour.
Although some women might dilate faster and other women may have slower dilation.
Active labor is when your cervix dilates from 3 cm to 10 cm and most women will dilate around 1 centimeter per hour during active labor.
You can make contractions come faster and help to induce labor through sexual activity, especially by having an orgasm, which can release oxytocin, which can help jumpstart the uterine contractions naturally.
Other things that could help make contractions come faster are sexual intercourse, eating spicy foods, exercise and nipple stimulation.
Even walking around, taking a warm bath, breathing and relaxation techniques can also help to get your contractions to come faster.
To calm down early contractions, you can move and change positions as you need to, but don't stay lying down and instead try to walk around between the contractions.
And then relax and breathe slowly and try taking a warm shower or bath.
Warm water has been shown to help with reducing the achy pains in early labor and contractions.
And try to remain upright and active, which helps the body to move into a good position and to move down into your pelvis and always eat and drink small and light and high in carbohydrates.
When you're in labor, ice chips can also help provide you with hydration and a cooling sensation, which can also be comforting to you during the physical exertion that occurs during labor.
Traditionally women in labor were often restricted to only ice chips during labor, but now current guidelines are also becoming much more liberal and also now allows for drinking clear liquids and in some cases even light meals.
Ice chips provide you a good way of staying hydrated, without overwhelming your stomach, especially when any solid food is restricted.
And the cooling sensation of the ice chips also are soothing during the contractions during labor and helps to manage any discomfort.
And ice chips are a low risk option for hydration, especially when compared to larger volumes of liquids or solid foods which could result in aspiration or inhaling of food or liquid into the lungs.
When I was in labor I used ice chips, although some women may need more than just the ice chips for hydration during labor.
If you need more than just ice chips during labor your doctor can help you get something more suitable along with the ice chips if needed.