The effect of umbilical vein oxytocin injection on third stage of labor time and postpartum hemmorrhage

Abstract Background: Postpartum hemorrhage is one of the most important complications of delivery and is among the first five causes of maternal mortality and morbidity in developed and developing countries. Objective: To investigate the effect of umbilical vein oxytocin injection on third stage of labor and degree of postpartum hemorrhage in primiparous women. Methods: This study was down on 100 primiparas which admitted to labor department, Afzalipour hospital of in 2003 and had no history of bleeding tendency. According primiparas, age and demographic data they divided into study and control groups. Blood count was down before delivery. In study group 20 IU oxytocin in 20ml normal saline were injected in umbilical vein immediately after cord clamped. In control group 20ml normal saline were injected in umbilical vein. Placental delivery time, weight and number of used gauzes during the third stage, blood count 4 hours after delivery, sex and weight of newborn were recorded. The data was analyzed using T-student and mann-whithney tests. Finding: No statically significant difference was found when patient age, gestational age, fundal height, newborn weight and sex, Hct, Hb and placental delivery time were compared in two groups. Postpartum bleeding in study group was less than in control group (141.82±91.6ml vs. 177.51±84.9cc) with a statistically significant difference (p=0.046). The difference in numbers of used gauzes was also significant (8.68±3.12 vs. 10.82±3.5), statistically (p=0.002). Conclusion: Oxytocin injection into umbilical vein is an effective procedure to reduce the postpartum hemorrhage but has no remarkable effect on placental delivery time.