Comparison of Low-dose and High-dose Oxytocin Regimens for Labor Augmentation

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2020-09-28
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: Female

Summary

Oxytocin is a medication that is often used to strengthen contractions to overcome delayed labor progress. The primary aim of this study is to determine whether receiving a higher dose of oxytocin lowers the chance of needing a cesarean section when compared to a lower dose of oxytocin. Other aims include examining the relationship between dose of oxytocin regimen and length of labor, postpartum hemorrhage, intrauterine infection, umbilical cord gas, neonatal Apgar score <5 at 5 minutes, and need for neonatal intensive care.

• Phase: Phase 4
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Northwestern University
• Treatments: Oxytocin

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Able to give informed written consent

• Age 18-45 years

• Nulliparous

• Pregnant with a live singleton gestation that is equal to or greater than 36 weeks

• Diagnosed with at least 6 regular uterine contractions in an observation period of no more than 60 minutes and at least one of the following: spontaneous rupture of membranes, OR cervix greater than or equal to 3 centimeters dilated OR cervix at least 80% effaced.

• The participant's attending obstetric physician or midwife has determined that the participant needs administration of oxytocin infusion for labor augmentation. Labor augmentation will be defined as stimulation of uterine contractions when spontaneous contractions have failed to result in progressive cervical dilation of descent of fetus.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women not meeting the above criteria

• History of prior cesarean section or uterine surgery

• Fetus in non-cephalic presentation

• Participant is undergoing labor induction (i.e. cervical ripening)

• Non-English speaking