The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of intraumbilical oxytocin and placental cord drainage in the management of third stage of labor.

Does the use of intraumbilical vein oxytocin injection or the use of Placental cord drainage can cause a reduction of blood loss, Hb level drop, the length of the third stage of labor and the incidence of manual removal of the retained placenta during the third stage of labor in pregnant women after delivery of the infant?

Study:

Study Design: A prospective randomized clinical trial. Study setting: The study will be conducted in Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital.

All pregnant women in the delivery ward will be submitted to:

1. Detailed complete history taking with special emphasis to maternal age, Parity, Maternal weight, as well as presence of any disease.

2. Clinical Examination:

   a. General examination. b. Abdominal examination (Symphysis-fundal height) and pelvic examination.

3. Investigation

   1. Ultrasound assessment to evaluate GA, fetal weight, AFI and Placental site.

   2. Basal complete blood picture, urine analysis and random blood sugar.

      The selected patients will fulfill the following criteria:

      • Pregnant women between 18-35 years of age with normal pregnancy.

      • A singleton fetus at a gestational age of 37 - 42 weeks in a cephalic presentation.

      • Neonatal birth weight of 2500 to 4500 grams.

      Exclusion criteria:

      • Medical disorders and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

      • Intrauterine fetal death.

      • Known or suspected fetal anomalies.

      • Oxytocin induction or Augmented cases.

      • Obstetrical complications (bleeding, premature rupture of membranes).
      • Previous CS or Previous Myomectomy.

      Study population:

      The present study will be conducted on 150 women recruited from the delivery ward of our hospital after they had received information on the purpose and course of the study from the medical investigator and had provided the written consent during routine prenatal visits , The 150 study participants will be divided into three groups using simple random distribution technique. After monitoring the duration of active phase and second stage of labor by following the partograph.

      Randomization and Allocation concealment:

      Randomization will be based on the sequence generation created by computer and the randomization tables will be kept with the study supervisor. Consenting patients fulfilling inclusion criteria will be randomized into one of the following 3 groups. Randomized allocation will be kept in opaque sealed envelopes, with enrollment numbers written on the envelopes. The envelopes will contain a card on with the designated study group will be written. After enrollment of the patients in the study, the envelopes marked with study number will be unsealed and the patients allocated to either groups:

      • Group (A) "Study Group 1": In the labor room women in Group A (n = 50) receive intraumbilical vein injection oxytocin 20 units diluted in 20 ml of 0.9% saline solution immediately after delivery of the baby, clamping and cutting the cord.

      • Group (B) "Study Group 2": The women in Group B (n = 50) have placental drainage immediately after delivery. This scenario will include placental cord clamping and cutting after delivery of the baby followed by immediately unclamping of the maternal side, allowing the blood to drain freely for a duration of three minutes.

      • Group (C) "Control Group": The women in Group C (n = 50) as a control group receive no intervention. Placenta will be delivered spontaneously after appearance of clinical signs of placental separation, which include strong uterine contraction, vaginal bleeding, and descending of umbilical cord through the vulva. This scenario will include placental cord clamping and cutting after 2 minutes of delivery of the baby.

      Outcome:

      Retained placenta is defined as a placenta that remained in the uterus for 30 minutes or more after delivery (Begley et al., 2014).

      • 1ry outcome: Duration of the third stage of labor.
      • 2ry outcome: Retained placenta, need for manual removal of placenta and the drop in Hb will be recorded.

      Sample size calculation:

      Sample size was calculated using PASS® version 11 program, sample size calculation was based on study carried out by (Güngördük et al., 2011). A preliminary power analysis was carried out to calculate the sample size using a formula: d = Δ/SD, where d is standardized difference, Δ is the smallest clinically significant difference and SD is standard deviation of the test group. Duration of 1.6 minutes was considered as the smallest clinically significant difference, and the SD (1.6 minutes) was selected the study performed by (Güngördük et al., 2011). Also, a standardized difference of 1.0 was obtained using nomogram. The power analysis suggested that a sample of 50 women in each group would provide a power of 95%, at 5% significance.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant women between 18-35 years of age with normal pregnancy.
• A singleton fetus at a gestational age of 37 - 42 weeks in a cephalic presentation.
• Neonatal birth weight of 2500 to 4500 grams.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Medical disorders and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
• Intrauterine fetal death.
• Known or suspected fetal anomalies.
• Oxytocin induction or augmented cases.
• Obstetrical complications (bleeding, premature rupture of membranes).
• Previous CS or Previous Myomectomy.

Pregnant women between 18-35 years of age with normal pregnancy

Randomization will be based on the sequence generation created by computer and the randomization tables will be kept with the study supervisor. Consenting patients fulfilling inclusion criteria will be randomized into one of the following 3 groups. Randomized allocation will be kept in opaque sealed envelopes, with enrollment numbers written on the envelopes. The envelopes will contain a card on with the designated study group will be written. After enrollment of the patients in the study, the envelopes marked with study number will be unsealed and the patients allocated to either groups