A randomized control study of oxytocin augmentation of labour. 1. Obstetric outcome

Summary Sixty women who were progressing slowly in spontaneous labour were assigned at random to three management protocols. Group 1 were observed without the use of oxytocin for 8 h while groups 2 and 3 were managed with a low‐dose and high‐dose oxytocin protocol respectively. The caesarean section rates were not significantly different between the three groups: 45%, 35% and 26% respectively. Cervical dilatation rate increased significantly after oxytocin infusion in both treatment groups compared with controls. The‘delay‐to‐delivery’interval and second stage duration were significantly shorter in the high‐dose group than in the control group. There were no measureable differences in the condition of the newborn infants between the three groups.