Abstract:

Objective To evaluate and compare the delivery process and maternal and child outcomes ofperinatal women who were determined to continue or stop using oxytocin after the active period at the time of induc⁃tion. Methods A total of 673 primiparas were selected to induce labor by intravenous infusion of oxytocin，350 incontinuous oxytocin group，and 323 in oxytocin stop group. The delivery process and maternal and infant outcomesof the two groups were compared. Results The comparison of the two groups in terms of duration of active phase，second stage of labor and chorioamnionitis indicated no statistical significance（P > 0.05）. The total usage ofoxytocin，total usage time，cutting contractions，incidence of uterine overstimulation，abnormal heart rate of hyper⁃tension，and incidence of postpartum hemorrhage in the oxytocin discontinuation group were lower than those in theoxytocin continuous application group（P < 0.05）. Conclusion Stopping oxytocin after the active period canreduce the volume of oxytocin，shorten the time of oxytocin，reduce the incidence of cesarean section，hyperstimu⁃lation，abnormal fetal heart rate and postpartum hemorrhage，but not prolong the labor process and increase theincidence of chorioamnionitis. Stopping oxytocin after the active period is a feasible option for labor induction.

Key words: induction of labor, active phase of labour, caesarean delivery, fetal heart rate abnor?malities, hyperstimulation