Get your birth injury questions answered by our expert lawyers. Find out if labor drugs can cause birth injuries and what your next step should be.

Can labor drugs such as Pitocin and Cytotec cause birth injuries?

A: Yes. It is common for physicians to use medications to induce or speed up labor. Pitocin and Cytotec are the most common labor induction medications. However, if misused, these drugs can cause birth injuries such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and brain bleeds, which can lead to cerebral palsy. Utilization of medications to start and…

Can labor drugs such as Pitocin and Cytotec cause hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)?

Pitocin (synthetic oxytocin) and Cytotec (synthetic prostaglandin) are used to speed up the process of labor. Both of these drugs can cause a condition called uterine hyperstimulation (alternative terms include tachysystole and hypertonus).  Hyperstimulation occurs when these drugs cause contractions to be too frequent, strong, or long-lasting.  When the placenta and uterus are under continuous…