THE EFFECT OF INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTION OF OXYTOCIN ON THE DURATION OF THIRD STAGE LABOR

Prolonged third stage of labor longer than 30 minutes, increase up to six-fold
risk of postpartum hemorrhage .While active management of the third stage decrease 60% risk of
postpartum hemorrhage. However, different organizations recommended different times for
prescribing prophylaxis oxytocin injection.This Study aimed to determine the effect of intramuscular
injection of oxytocin on the duration of third stage labor.
Materials & Methods: A quasi-experimental study conducted on 100 pregnant women with
gestational age 42-38 weeks, singleton pregnancy. Subjects randomly divided into two groups of
injection oxytocin IM with 10 IU after delivery of the anterior shoulder and receiving standard care
(injection oxytocin after delivery of the placenta) following a coin toss. A questionnaire, checklist and
chronometer were used to collect information . The data were analyzed using SPSS11,5.
independent t- test were used to analyze data. by using SPSS 11.5 software.
Results: The results showed that duration of the third stage in intervention group was 7,92± 2,5..
minutes versus 8,86± 3,1 in the control group. Therefore, the difference of the duration of the third
stage of labor was not statistically significant between the two groups (P> 0/31)
Conclusion: Injection time of oxytocin IM does not have any effect on the duration of the third stage.