Maternal hemodynamics after oxytocin bolus compared with infusion in the third stage of labor: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To assess the effects of oxytocin bolus or infusion on maternal hemodynamics in the third stage of labor.

Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy fashion, 99 women received an intravenous oxytocin bolus (10 IU push) and 102 women received an infusion (10 IU in 500 mL saline at 125 mL/h) at delivery of the anterior shoulder. Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were measured every minute for 10 minutes, then every 5 minutes for the next 20 minutes.