Labor augmentation by means of oxytocin – women's experiences

• Objective To study labor experiences in women exposed to oxytocin treatment vs no or delayed treatment of spontaneous, but prolonged labor in nulliparos women. Study design A randomised 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 (SG) or expectancy (EG). 461 women filled out a questionnaire including the following items: level of sense of security, pain, sense of control, experience of their own role in labor, and satisfaction with healthcare. Results The oxytocin-treated women's labor experiences did not differ in secondary inertia as compared with the women who chose to delay oxytocin treatment for three hours. The number of women who experienced a labor that met with their expectations was significantly higher in the oxytocin group than in the delay group. Both groups had a high level of lasting memories from their labor experience that resulted in a state of depression or low-spiritedness one month postpartum, SG (41%) and EG (35%), with no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion Although the labor experiences of both groups were equivalent, the women of the oxytocin group felt that their labor process had proceeded as expected to a higher degree than the women who postponed oxytocin treatment for three hours. Hence, this study does not support the assertion that there would be a difference in labor experience if oxytocin stimulation is postponed. Many patients with inertia have lasting memories from the labor process which result in a state of depression or low-spiritedness one month postpartum, SG (41%) and EG (35%). Questionnaires filled out from women without inertia showed that the group giving spontaneous birth withouth any intravenous drip the proportion for depression was 12%.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reproduktionsmedicin och gynekologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine (hsv//eng)

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