Abstract
Objective: to evaluate the effects of labor stimulation with oxytocin on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Method: descriptive and analytical study with 338 women who gave birth at a tertiary hospital. Obstetric and neonatal variables were measured and compared in women submitted and non-submitted to stimulation with oxytocin. Statistics were performed using Chi-square test, Fisher exact test, Student t-test; and crude Odds Ratio with 95% confidence interval were calculated. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: stimulation with oxytocin increases the rates of cesarean sections, epidural anesthesia and intrapartum maternal fever in primiparous and multiparous women. It has also been associated with low pH values of umbilical cord blood and with a shorter duration of the first stage of labor in primiparous women. However, it did not affect the rates of 3rd and 4th degree perineal lacerations, episiotomies, advanced neonatal resuscitation, 5-minute Apgar scores and meconium. Conclusion: stimulation with oxytocin should not be used systematically, but only in specific cases. These findings provide further evidence to health professionals and midwives on the use of oxytocin during labor. Under normal conditions, women should be informed of the possible effects of labor stimulation with oxytocin.
Highlights
Oxytocin is the most frequently medication used for labor induction in obstetrics[1]
The results of this study show that the use of oxytocin in labor stimulation can be detrimental to both the mother and the newborn, since they indicate that the use of oxytocin is associated with increased cesarean section rates, use of epidural analgesia and maternal intrapartum fever, both in primiparous and multiparous
It was observed a significant association between stimulation with oxytocin and low pH values of umbilical cord blood of newborns of primiparous mothers
Summary
Oxytocin is the most frequently medication used for labor induction in obstetrics[1]. Oxytocin is commonly used in modern obstetric practice to increase uterine activity, in cases in which the labor process has failed, with the aim to enable it to progress to a vaginal delivery[3]. In 2007, the Institute for the Safety of Medical Practice warned that oxytocin is a medicine that requires great caution[5]. This type of medication is characterized by requiring special attention and caution during its administration, since it presents a high risk of harm when incorrectly used. Errors related to the use of oxytocin are currently the most common that may occur during childbirth[5] These errors are related to high doses in most cases, which may cause excessive uterine activity[6]
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