Under what circumstances is oxytocin used? What is the effect of oxytocin?

Oxytocin is used to stimulate the uterus. Many hospitals give oxytocin to mothers to help them give birth as soon as possible. It is a common drug, but not every pregnant woman is suitable for oxytocin.

At present, oxytocin is still used as a medicine rather than a health product, so it is forbidden to abuse it. The correct use of oxytocin is related to the life safety of the mother and the fetus. Different mothers react differently to oxytocin. The use of oxytocin must be clear and used reasonably and strictly.

1. Under what circumstances should oxytocin be administered?

(1) Prenatal induction of labor: Oxytocin can be used when the expectant mother has any situation that requires termination of pregnancy, such as miscarriage, fetal malformation, fetal growth retardation, overdue pregnancy, the possibility of hemolysis, placental dysfunction, etc. Before delivery, the full-time doctor will decide the timing of induction of labor based on the fetal movement, fetal heart monitoring, and B-ultrasound amniotic fluid volume. If the amniotic fluid depth is less than 3cm and the fetal movement is less than three times per hour, hospitalization for induction of labor will be arranged, and oxytocin will be used during the induction of labor;

(2) Inducing labor during delivery: If the expectant mother experiences uterine contractions, amniotic fluid discharge, repeated delays, and the fetus is delayed in landing during delivery, oxytocin can be injected. In addition, oxytocin is also needed in cases of weak uterine contractions and uncoordinated uterine contractions. The dosage of oxytocin should also be used strictly according to the drug instructions to achieve an ideal delivery;

(3) Postpartum lactation: When a woman is lactating, the mammary glands can also continuously secrete a large amount of milk under the action of oxytocin, and store it in the mammary gland alveoli. At this time, oxytocin causes the myoepithelial cells around the mammary gland alveoli to contract, promoting the discharge of milk from the mammary glands;

(4) Hemostasis: Oxytocin has the same hemostasis function as a bandage, and the principle is very similar, mainly through external force to compress the damaged blood vessels to achieve the purpose of hemostasis. After the injection of oxytocin, the myometrium slowly contracts under the action of the drug, and the contraction force will close the open blood vessels in the uterine cavity to prevent blood from flowing out.

2. In what situations should oxytocin not be used?

(1) Placenta previa: When the expectant mother is 28 weeks pregnant, the placenta is attached to the lower part of the uterus, or the lower edge of the placenta reaches or covers the internal cervical os. If the position is lower than the fetal presenting part, it is considered a case of placenta previa. Placenta previa has the potential to cause the risk of severe bleeding during pregnancy, and may also increase the risk of intrapartum and postpartum bleeding. Therefore, it should be used according to the situation when the placenta returns to its normal position;

(2) Malposition: The position of the fetus in the uterus is called fetal position. When the longitudinal axis of the fetus is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mother, the fetal head is at the entrance of the pelvis and flexed, the chin is close to the chest wall, the spine is slightly bent forward, the limbs are bent and crossed in front of the chest and abdomen, and the fetus is oval, it is called occipital anterior position, which is considered a normal fetal position. All other fetal positions are abnormal fetal positions. Malposition can cause dystocia during delivery, and generally requires surgical assistance;

(3) Pelvic abnormalities: Female pelvic abnormalities can be caused by genetic and environmental factors. Pelvic abnormalities can hinder the physiological processes of the fetal head entering the pelvis, engaging, descending, and internal rotation, resulting in dystocia. If discovered in time and properly treated, dystocia can be transformed into normal labor, allowing pregnant women to give birth naturally and reducing the cesarean section rate.

In addition, if the expectant mother has uterine scars, cervical cancer, acute inflammation of the reproductive tract, etc., she is not suitable for oxytocin induction and acceleration of labor.

Oxytocin can also be called oxytocin. Oxytocin has the function of promoting regular contraction of the uterus, and can directly act on the relaxation of blood vessels and smooth muscles, and has anti-diuretic effects. Expectant mothers should use oxytocin only after examination and diagnosis by a full-time doctor, and the doctor should supervise the whole process during use. The main effects of oxytocin are:

1. Excitement of uterine smooth muscle: After the expectant mother uses oxytocin, oxytocin can selectively stimulate the oxytocin receptors on the uterine smooth muscle, thereby enhancing the contraction ability and frequency of the uterus. The main characteristics of this effect are:

(1) The size of the dose can affect the nature and intensity of the action: A small dose of 2 to 5 U can enhance the rhythmic contraction of the uterus, increase the contraction frequency of the uterus, and slightly increase the contraction tension to achieve a state similar to normal delivery. Using a large dose of 5 to 10 U of oxytocin will cause the uterus to have sustained and enhanced contractions. The harm caused in this case is very serious, mainly manifested in causing the fetus to suffocate and die in the uterus or even cause uterine rupture.

(2) The effects produced in different parts of the uterus are different: a small dose of 2 to 5 U can cause rhythmic contraction of the smooth muscles of the uterine body and fundus, thereby allowing normal delivery of the fetus when the cervix is ​​relaxed; but the dose is not strictly guaranteed, and using too much will be detrimental to the delivery of the fetus from the mother.

(3) The level of sex hormones in the mother's body affects the effect of drugs: Estrogen increases the level of oxytocin in the endometrium and decidua, but reduces the sensitivity of the receptors to oxytocin, while progesterone has the opposite effect.

2. Other effects: Oxytocin's uterine contraction can enhance the contraction of myoepithelial cells around the mammary gland alveoli and promote the mother's milk discharge. At the same time, oxytocin can relax vascular smooth muscle and lower blood pressure; it has a mild anti-diuretic function.

Clinically, many first-time mothers experience prolonged labor. Some doctors recommend the use of oxytocin to shorten the labor period, resulting in a trend of oxytocin being abused in recent years. Some mothers also experience side effects such as fetal asphyxia and uterine rupture due to improper use of oxytocin.

Side Effects of Oxytocin

1. Oxytocin causes uncoordinated or overly strong uterine contractions, causing the fetus to suffer from hypoxia and suffocation in the uterus. In addition, uncoordinated uterine contractions can accelerate labor or even stop labor.

2. It causes uterine rupture. If the doctor injects oxytocin when the pregnant woman's pelvis is narrow or even the fetus is in an abnormal position, the contraction ability of the uterus will be greatly enhanced. In this case, the fetus cannot pass through the birth canal and the uterus will rupture.

Therefore, before using oxytocin, the doctor needs to conduct a detailed examination of the expectant mother's pelvic size, fetal position, etc. to determine whether oxytocin can be used to avoid adverse consequences.

The oxytocin used in hospitals is mainly oxytocin, generally called oxytocin injection, which is usually only used if you exceed the due date for too long. Its main function is to promote uterine contraction, and to treat bleeding caused by weak uterine contractions during delivery and poor recovery of uterine contractions after delivery! The side effects are generally not serious, and it is still very safe to use oxytocin correctly, but a doctor must be present when using oxytocin to avoid accidents! If some mothers are allergic to oxytocin, they may feel nausea, dry heaves, have an irregular heartbeat, or have a rash all over their body! In addition, if you want to induce labor, you also need to use oxytocin! Now hospitals generally use oxytocin drips, and the drip speed must be controlled. Too fast a speed may cause water intoxication and induce pulmonary edema. Excessive use of oxytocin and severe uterine contractions may also lead to dangerous situations such as uterine rupture, cervical laceration, placental abruption, and fetal distress! Pregnant women must use oxytocin under the supervision of a doctor!