Oxytocin Infusion and the Duration of the Active Phase of Labor in Nulliparous Women with Term Pregnancies

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 Medical Student, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Associated Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Gynecology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

4 Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

10.48305/jims.v43.i832.1199

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oxytocin administration on the duration of the active phase of labor in nulliparous women with term pregnancies.
Methods: In this double-blind clinical trial, 100 pregnant women, candidates for elective normal vaginal delivery (NVD) and who had entered the active phase of labor were randomly divided into two groups of 50. In the first group, oxytocin was infused with normal saline and in the second group, normal saline was infused alone during the active phase of labor. The time from 6 to 10 cm cervical dilation, the time from 6 cm dilation to delivery, and labor outcomes were recorded and compared between the two groups.
Findings: The mean duration from 6 cm to 10 cm cervical dilation was 178.20 ± 32.54 minutes in the intervention group and 197.30 ± 38.71 minutes in the control group, with no significant difference between the groups (P = 0.44). The mean duration from 6 cm cervical dilation to delivery was 187.80 ± 96.25 minutes in the intervention group and 204.00 ± 110.34 minutes in the control group, with a significant difference between the groups (P = 0.009).
Conclusion: Continuing oxytocin infusion during the active phase of labor in nulliparous women induced with oxytocin shortened the duration of the active phase and may help promote NVD by increasing maternal satisfaction.

Highlights

Azar Danesh Shahraki: Google Scholar, PubMed

Amirreza Farhadian Dehkordi: Google Scholar, PubMed

Minoo Movahedi: Google Scholar, PubMed

Azam Zafarbakhsh: Google Scholar, PubMed

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 43, Issue 832
4th Week, November
November and December 2025
Pages 1199-1205

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History

  • Receive Date: 24 September 2024
  • Accept Date: 17 September 2025

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