THE USE OF OXYTOCIN INJECTION INTO THE UMBILICAL VEIN FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE THIRD STAGE OF LABOR

Abstract

The third stage of labor is the most important stage because its complications are direct causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. Most of the complications of the third stage are preventable by proper and careful management of the third stage. The management of the third stage of labor is still controversial, some authors advocate conservative management while others prefer active management to shorten the third stage and avoid its complications. The active management of the third stage of labor is the management which is recommended by most obstetricians. Recently, injection of oxytocin into the umbilical vein after cord clamping and cutting was suggested to effect placental separation, shorten the third stage duration and reduce third stage blood loss.

The present study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of the prophylactic use of intraumbilical vein oxytocin injection on the third stage duration and the third stage blood loss. The study aimed also at identification of the best concentration of intraumbilical vein oxytocin injection suitable for prophylactic use in the third stage of labor