Oxytocin Administration in Low-Risk Women, a Retrospective Analysis of Birth and Neonatal Outcomes

Xavier Espada-Trespalacios, Felipe Ojeda, Mercedes Perez-Botella, Raimon Milà Villarroel, Montserrat Bach Martinez, Helena Figuls Soler, Israel Anquela Sanz, Pablo Rodríguez Coll and Ramon Escuriet
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Xavier Espada-Trespalacios: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital General de Granollers, Avinguda Francesc Ribas s/n, 08402 Granollers, Spain
Felipe Ojeda: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital General de Granollers, Avinguda Francesc Ribas s/n, 08402 Granollers, Spain
Mercedes Perez-Botella: Research in Childbirth and Health Unit (ReaRH), University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK
Raimon Milà Villarroel: School of Health Sciences Blanquerna, Universitat Ramon Llull, Carrer Padilla 326, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
Montserrat Bach Martinez: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital General de Granollers, Avinguda Francesc Ribas s/n, 08402 Granollers, Spain
Helena Figuls Soler: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital General de Granollers, Avinguda Francesc Ribas s/n, 08402 Granollers, Spain
Israel Anquela Sanz: School of Health Sciences Blanquerna, Universitat Ramon Llull, Carrer Padilla 326, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
Pablo Rodríguez Coll: Obstetric Care Area, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Carretera de Canyet s/n, 08916 Badalona, Spain
Ramon Escuriet: Research Group in Global Health, Gender and Society (GHenderS), Universitat Ramon Llull, Carrer Padilla 326, 08025 Barcelona, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-15

Abstract: Background: In recent years, higher than the recommended rate of oxytocin use has been observed among low-risk women. This study examines the relationship between oxytocin administration and birth outcomes in women and neonates. Methods: A retrospective analysis of birth and neonatal outcomes for women who received oxytocin versus those who did not. The sample included 322 women with a low-risk pregnancy. Results: Oxytocin administration was associated with cesarean section (aOR 4.81, 95% CI: 1.80–12.81), instrumental birth (aOR 3.34, 95% CI: 1.45–7.67), episiotomy (aOR 3.79, 95% CI: 2.20–6.52) and length of the second stage (aOR 00:18, 95% CI: 00:04–00:31). In neonatal outcomes, oxytocin in labor was associated with umbilical artery pH ? 7.20 (OR 3.29, 95% CI: 1.33–8.14). Admission to neonatal intensive care unit (OR 0.56, 95% CI: 0.22–1.42), neonatal resuscitation (OR 1.04, 95% CI: 0.22–1.42), and Apgar score <7 (OR 0.48, 95% CI: 0.17–1.33) were not associated with oxytocin administration during labor. Conclusions: Oxytocin administration during labor for low-risk women may lead to worse birth outcomes with an increased risk of instrumental birth and cesarean, episiotomy and the use of epidural analgesia for pain relief. Neonatal results may be also worse with an increased proportion of neonates displaying an umbilical arterial pH ? 7.20.

Keywords: term birth; obstetric labor; oxytocin; low-risk pregnancy; birth outcome; neonatal outcome (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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