Oxytocin discontinuation or Continuing in the Active Phase of Induced Labor: Maternal and Fetal Outcomes

Abstract

Oxytocin, the most commonly used drug to induce labor, may cause adverse effects due to uterine hyperstimulation. The aim of this study is to compare the maternal and fetal outcomes of discontinued or continued oxytocin during the active phase of labor induction. This study was conducted on 70 pregnant women referred to Baath Mission Hospital in Sanandaj, Iran. Patients were randomly assigned to have their oxytocin stimulation continued or discontinued in the active phase of labor. The average duration of the third stage of labor was longer in the oxytocin discontinued group than in the oxytocin continued group (p=0.02). Also, the duration of the first and second stages of labor was longer in the oxytocin discontinued group than in the oxytocin continued group (p=0.01 and p=0.04 respectively). Also, labor induction time was longer in the oxytocin continued group than in the oxytocin discontinued group (p=0.04). In this study, discontinued oxytocin lengthened the first, second, and third stages of labor and shortened the labor induction time. Neither discontinued nor continued oxytocin affected maternal or fetal outcomes.