Labor augmentation by means of oxytocin – women's experiences

Abstract

Study design: A randomized controlled study. If labor was prolonged during the active phase with no further opening of the cervix for two hours, the subject were randomly allocated to either labor augmentation by means of oxytocin (standard care group= SG) or expectancy (expectant care group=EG). If the women in the EG after the 3 hours still did not progress in their labor, a reassessment regarding the need for labor augmentation was done. 454 of the studied women filled out a questionnaire, one month postpartum including the following items: level of sense of security, pain, sense of control, experience of their own role in labor, and satisfaction with healthcare. The fathers answered questions about their experience of being a supporting person during labor. A comparison was performed between the randomized groups and a selected group of nulliparous women delivered without oxytocin augmentation regarding if there was a state of low-spiritedness one month postpartum.