Comparison of the Mean Duration of 3rd Stage of Labour between Intraumbilical and Intravenous Oxytocin

Abstract

Objective: To compare the mean duration of third stage of labour (TSL) between intraumbilical (IU) and intravenous (IV) oxytocin.

Methodology: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sadiq Abbasi Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan, from October 2024 to March 2025. One hundred women aged 18–40 years with term singleton pregnancies and spontaneous vaginal delivery were enrolled and randomly allocated to receive either IU (10 U in 10 mL saline) or IV oxytocin (20 U in 500 mL saline). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, with group comparisons performed using appropriate statistical tests, considering p<0.05 as significant.

Results: A total of 100 women were enrolled, with mean age of 27.6±4.4 years. The median duration of the TSL was significantly less in the IU oxytocin group compared to the IV group, at 2.5 minutes (IQR: 2.1–3.2) versus 3.4 minutes (IQR: 3.0–3.8), respectively (p<0.001). Post-partum hemorrhage (p=0.400), need for additional uterotonics (p=0.558), maternal tachycardia (p=0.646), and maternal hypotension (p=0.558) were relatively similar among study groups.

Conclusion: Intraumbilical oxytocin significantly shortens the duration of the TSL compared to intravenous oxytocin.