Oxytocin & Childbirth — When Should the Life-Saving Drug Be Given?

Oxytocin & Childbirth — When Should the Life-Saving Drug Be Given?

Doctors react to the recent health advisory that suggests delayed administration of oxytocin to women during childbirth.

A recent advisory issued by the health ministry to various states and union territories asks for delayed administration of the popular medicine ‘oxytocin’ to women at the time of childbirth, as per reports.

To be specific, doctors and medical staff are now advised to give oxytocin only after the placenta has been delivered. This could take up to 15-30 minutes after the delivery of the baby — and that's where it becomes problematic.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) advises giving oxytocin ‘immediately after the birth of the baby’. Countries, including India, have been following this global standard ever since.

The debate becomes clear when we look into the need for oxytocin and the functions it performs. More importantly, what happens when it is not given on time?

Also Read: How Safe is Vaginal Delivery After C-Section? An Expert Answers

Why Oxytocin?

Uterotonics are agents given to women in the third stage of labour (after the delivery of the baby and until the expulsion of the placenta) to induce contractions and prevent postpartum haemorrhage (PPH).

The WHO explains, "Postpartum Haemorrhage is commonly defined as a blood loss of 500 ml or more within 24 hours after birth. PPH is the leading cause of maternal mortality in low-income countries and the primary cause of nearly one quarter of all maternal deaths globally."

PPH risk can be brought down by around 70 percent with timely oxytocin delivery.

World Health Organisation“Most deaths due to PPH could be avoided through the use of prophylactic uterotonics. Oxytocin is recommended as the uteronic drug of choice.”

So let's get this straight: PPH is the leading cause of maternal mortality globally, and failure of the uterine to contract adequately (uterine atony) is the most common reason behind it. Naturally, the solution stems from inducing uterine contractions — and administering oxytocin immediately is one of the ways to do just that.

So why does the advisory say otherwise?

Also Read: Maternal Delivery Complications Up During Night, Weekends: Study

The Study

The government's recommendations are based on a study conducted on women and babies in a district in Gujarat, along with a few in a Kolkata hospital. The impact of delayed cord blood clamping and delayed oxytocin delivery showed benefits like smooth initiation of breastfeeding and better immunity and cognitive development in babies.

The News Minute quotes study researcher Dr Arun Singh, who is also an advisor with the Centre on Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram.

Dr Arun Singh“What we did in Gujarat was taking women and babies as close to completely natural childbirth practised before 17th century and it was a joyful experience for not only women but also healthcare professionals.”

Further, he said that most women do not need artificial oxytocin because naturally produced oxytocin, which the mother herself produces, is "far superior".

But can we base a nationwide policy on a single study that contradicts universal standards? FIT speaks to several doctors for their takes.javascript:void(0)

Also Read: Epidural Injections: Making Childbirth Easier... Or Not?

"It's Very Surprising", Say Doctors

Dr Mamta Pattnayak is consultant of Gynaeocology at Fortis Gurugram. She says that oxytocin is to be delivered immediately after the delivery of the baby without fail. It is needed to facilitate uterinal contractions and smoothen the labour process. Waiting for the placenta to be released makes no sense, especially as she makes this point:

Dr Mamta Pattnayak“In fact, oxytocin helps with the placenta expulsion. So it makes sense to administer it as soon as possible. There are so many functions it performs. If we don’t give it on time, the bleeding could exceed to dangerous levels.”

Dr Puneet Bedi is a gynecologist and obstetrician at Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi. He thinks on the same lines, "Delaying the drug could be fatal to women. We have been using uterotonics since time immemorial to prevent bleeding. It's a life-saving medicine."

Dr Puneet Bedi“There could also be a business aspect to it. Methergine and oxytocin are relatively cheap, and they don’t have a patent. Restricting or objecting to their usage in any way could lead the way for costlier alternatives.”

But what about the study? Dr Anu Vig, Consultant, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Motherhood Hospital, Mumbai, highlighted the limitations of the research. "I don't know how they have come up with these recommendations. It's very surprising. These are totally against the global standards. It's like a 360 degree turn."

Dr Anu Vig“They’ve based it on a pilot project in Gujarat. But Gujarat does not represent India. How can it be replicated all across the country? Compare the number of participants from this study to those of other studies done worldwide. WHO data is far more representative, and they clearly state oxytocin has reduced PPH and maternal mortality.”

She adds that the drug is life-saving and preventive as long as it is given on time. It cannot do its job if it's not administrated at the right time.javascript:void(0)

Dr Rishma Pai, immediate past president of Indian Society for Assisted Reproduction, emphasized that research is now leaning more towards prevention rather than treatment, making timely oxytocin even more important. “Patients keep bleeding until the uterine starts contracting. So it just makes more sense to engage in active management of labor through oxytocin, which will augment the delivery of the placenta. We have been using it for years, and there are no associated harms with it.”

Dr Rishma Pai“With anemic patients, it’s even more important to prevent blood loss. So you can’t do without the drug. I haven’t been able to understand the basis of the advisory. It can’t be based on one study. There are hundred studies to prove otherwise. The truth is that there is no harm in giving it, but the negative effects of not administering it on time are humongous.”

FIT also spoke to Dr Gandhali Deorukhar, Gynecologist at Wockhardt Hospital. She echoed the vews of all other doctors when she said, "We definitely want to give oxytocin as soon as the anterior shoulder of the baby is out."

Dr Gandhali Deorukhar“A delay in administering oxytocin can lead to disastrous results. As it is, there is a lot of bleeding. We can’t afford any increased bleeding as it could cause serious harm to the mother and the baby.”

Notably, this is not the first time that the drug has come under the government’s scanner. The Centre has been trying to ban its manufacture by private firms and make state-run Karnataka Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (KAPL) the sole manufacturer and supplier. The reason cited is to prevent oxytocin misuse in dairy farming (lactation enhancer and milk inducer) and agriculture. The Supreme Court has currently referred the issue to a larger bench.

Also Read: FitQuiz: How to Stay Healthy As a New Mother After Childbirth?