Effects of high-dose oxytocin augmentation on umbilical cord blood gas values in primigravid women.

Active management of labor for term primigravid women with singleton, vertex presentations is associated with significant decreases in incidence of cesarean section and duration of labor, without adversely affecting major perinatal outcome variables. Concern has been expressed that high-dose oxytocin augmentation may increase the incidence of fetal compromise. With active management of labor, 43% of 1423 primigravid women received high-dose oxytocin augmentation during an 11-month period.