A comparison of labor outcome with oxytocin and spontaneous delivery in low risk pregnant women

Medical interventions in labor have been common in recent years. Oxytocin is amongst them which is used to speed delivery. Unfortunately the indiscriminate administration of it could lead to maternal and infant complications. The aim of this study was to compare labor outcome with oxytocin and spontaneous delivery in low risk pregnant women. In this descriptive – comparative study, 395 women with single fetus, cephalic presentation, normal delivery, in the active phase of labor were selected. 197 of the cases, as Oxytocin group, received oxytocin by physician,s order during their labor and 198 of the samples, as the second group, had spontaneous vaginal delivery. In both groups, some of the maternal and neonatal outcomes including: maternal morbidity, Apgar score at minutes one and five, admitted in neonatal intensive care unit and were studied.Data were analyzed using SPSS 16, t-test, Chi-square and Mann Whitney tests. The findings showed that oxytocin significantly increased rates of episiotomy, laceration, post partum hemorrhage, hospitalization of neonate in intensive care unit and reduction of Apgar score at minutes one and five that were statistically significant (p <0.05). The results showed that the acceleration of delivery is not a safe method and increases the rate of maternal and infant complications. Therefore, it should be used in the case of medical necessities.