Pitocin, when released in the bloodstream, has a half-life of less than 3
minutes, so protein binding shouldn't be a concern as far as I can reason.
It is also secreted by both mothers and babies; it's sort of like heparin -
not able to survive the GI tract, and a physiologic substance.

High bilirubins with pitocin have been postulated to come from the increased
incidence of relative prematurity which occurs when labors are induced
before their time, or from the forceful uterine contractions in third stage,
causing more of the placental reserve of blood to enter the baby (assuming
the cord was not clamped instantaneously) and thus giving the baby a higher
hematocrit which equals a larger surplus of red blood cells to deal with the
first days of life.  There may also be more cephalhematomas, with
concomitant increase in jaundice from the degrading of such a large bolus of
RBCs.

Naomi - the study linking something to childhood cancer - could you be
thinking of the suspicion that routine IV administration of vitamin K was
related to childhood cancer, in the early- to mid-1980's?  I don't recall
ever hearing any such thing about pitocin myself.  BTW, the vitamin K
connection was not evident when studies designed specifically to examine it,
were carried out, though it is impossible to ever rule out such a suspicion
entirely.  This is getting OT so I'll stop now.
Rachel (the midwife) Myr
Kristiansand, Norway

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