Oxytocin is a large molecule, therefore must be administered into the blood stream.  It does not cross the GI tract.  I had a physician friend who did education in the Ukraine a few years back who had to tell the MD's there that it was OK for mothers to breastfeed after receiving pitocin induction. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 7:35 PM
Subject: Re: Placenta and breastmilk production

I heard something about placenta being rich in oxytocin, so mother mammals who have multiple babies eat the placenta in order to stimulate the next wave of contractions for the next baby... Don't know if it's true or not, or if oxytocin even works through the gi tract.

Catherine

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