Ideal Time of Oxytocin Infusion During Cesarean Section

Ideal Time of Oxytocin Infusion During Cesarean Section

This study will evaluate if the timing of oxytocin administration in cesarean deliveries will affect the amount of maternal blood loss. Half of participants will receive oxytocin after delivery of the fetal anterior shoulder and the other half will receive oxytocin after delivery of the placenta. We hypothesize that administering oxytocin after delivery of the shoulder, will result in less overall maternal blood loss.

Oxytocin is a routinely administered medication for both vaginal and cesarean deliveries in the third stage of labor, as part of standard of care in the United States. This medication helps to reduce overall blood loss, by functioning as a uterotonic. Currently evidence is lacking to direct timing of oxytocin administration in cesarean deliveries.

This study will evaluate both estimated and quantitative blood loss for both groups of patients. It will also compare the change from pre-operative to post-operative hemoglobin levels.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women undergoing cesarean section at Loyola Hospital
• Women who read and speak the English and/or Spanish language
• Women age 18 or older

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women who deliver vaginally
• Gestation under 37 weeks and 0 days
• Women with coagulopathies
• Multiple gestation pregnancies
• Antepartum hemorrhage for example abruption
• Placental abnormalities for example previa, accreta