Mary,
I think you haven't heard as we are all terrified of lawsuits -

My experience with what was described as a Prostaglandin reaction was horrid.  I
arrived at the hospital one day to find there was a very sick baby there
(Friday).  The reaction to the prostaglandin had caused (they think) a violent
contraction of the placental blood vessels.  Baby was limited in oxygen supply
until emergency C/S was done (don't know how long this was).  When he arrived at
NICU, he was having the strongest convulsions our NICU nurses had ever seen.  He
was also totally without ANY reflexes.  Treatment was instituted, (don't know as
I'm not an NICU nurse - am the LC at the hospital).  We watched and waited, mom
was given pumping support.  Baby was having some reflexes on Saturday, and was
off ventilator, but still convulsing.  By Monday (the power of the infant
recuperative ability amazed the nurses and the MD's) he was sucking, I put him
to mom's breast.

He was in NICU for a week, studied by all the specialists, who at time of
discharge would still not begin to project what this baby lost or what his
abilities would be.  Mom was giving breast milk via bottles and breastfeeding.

Have been told (third-hand) that at this time baby is following normal growth
and development (he's still less than 6 months old).

Another aspect to add to this - I was in the OB/GYN meeting giving a
presentation on our Breastfeeding Program, and a salesperson for a new
Prostaglandin delivery system which, according to his words, "reduces the risk
of complications due to erratic prostaglandin absorption with our current
process,"  was showing his new product.  The movie that came with it stressed
the slow, steady way this new system delivers prostaglandin.

Of course, others will tout the fact that thanks to Prostaglandins we are able
to avoid many cesareans, but if you ask me, a c/s is a lot better than what I
saw that week!

Jeanette Panchula,
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