None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Oxytocin is a hormone which stimulates the smooth muscle of the uterus, producing rhythmic contractions, towards the end of pregnancy, during labour and after delivery. Synthetic oxytocin is a drug which is given to women in a drip (intravenous infusion) to help start (induce) and continue labour. Synthetic oxytocin is used because it helps establish contractions in a pattern similar to that of normal labour. If a woman has a spontaneous vaginal birth, it is generally the midwife who decides when to stop the synthetic oxytocin infusion after the birth of the baby. However, if she has an assisted vaginal birth (such as a vacuum or forceps birth) or caesarean birth, it may be the obstetrician who decides when to stop the synthetic oxytocin infusion after the birth of the baby. We are investigating the best time for the midwife to stop the synthetic oxytocin infusion after a spontaneous vaginal birth. We want to investigate this topic as there is no current evidence to guide this clinical practice. The primary aim of this study is to determine the proportion of women who have a postpartum haemorrhage, when intravenous oxytocin is ceased at 15, 30 or 60 minutes following completion of the third stage of labour. We hypothesise women who have intrapartum, intravenous oxytocin ceased at 15, 30 or 60 minutes following completion of the third stage of labour will experience the same rates of postpartum haemorrhage. We estimate that a total of 312 participants will need to be recruited to adequately power this study
Interventions
Arm 1, Intravenous oxytocin ceased within 15 minutes of completion of the third stage of labour.
Arm2,Intravenous oxytocin ceased 30 minutes after completion of the third stage of labour.
Arm 3, Intravenous oxytocin ceased 60 minutes after completion of the third stage of labour.
Oxytocin is titrated up from 12 to 108 mls per hour until contractions are established therefore some women will need 60 mls to get into established labour and some women will need 108mls. For analysis women will be
Arm 1, Intravenous oxytocin ceased within 15 minutes of completion of the third stage of labour. Arm2,Intravenous oxytocin ceased 30 minutes after completion of the third stage of labour. Arm 3, Intravenous oxytocin ceased 60 minutes after completion of the third stage of labour. Oxytocin is titrated up from 12 to 108 mls per hour until contractions are established therefore some women will need 60 mls to get into established labour and some women will need 108mls. For analysis women will be grouped into low medium and high groups for the maximum amount of oxytocin reached.
Sponsors
Curtin University School of Nursing Midwifery and Paramedicine
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
16 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Women would be included in the study if they: Are more than or equal to 16 years old. Receive intrapartum oxytocin for induction of labour. Have a singleton pregnancy. Are more than or equal to 37 weeks gestation. Have a spontaneous vaginal delivery.
Exclusion criteria
Women would be excluded from the study if they: Are <16 years old. Have a multiple pregnancy. Are <37 weeks gestation. Commence intravenous oxytocin as part of the postpartum haemorrhage regime. Have an assisted vaginal delivery. Have a caesarean section. Have their intravenous oxytocin ceased before delivery.
Outcome results
None listed