Abstract
Purpose
To compare the effects of two different regimens of intravenous hydration and oral hydration on the duration of active labor.
Methods
Two hundred and ninety-three low risk term primigravida in active labor were randomized into three groups. The first group had 99 patients who received oral fluids only, the second group of 98 patients received intravenous Ringer lactate at the rate of 125 ml/h (IV 125 ml) and the third group had 96 patients who received intravenous Ringer lactate at a rate of 250 ml/h (IV 250 ml). Amniotomy and oxytocin administration were allowed according to the physician’s discretion.
Results
The mean duration of labor in the oral fluid group was 391, 363 min in the 125 ml/h group and 343 min in the 250 ml/h group, P = 0.203. The incidence of prolonged labor more than 12 h in the oral fluid group was 7.1% in the oral fluid group, 4.1% in the 125 ml/h group and 3.1% in the 250 ml/h group, P = 0.402. The oxytocin requirement was 37% in the oral group, 32% in the 125 ml/h group and 33% in the 250 ml/h group, P = 0.68. There was a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of vomiting in patients receiving intravenous hydration, i.e. 24.2% in the oral group, 11.2% in the 125 ml/h group and 6.3% in the 250 ml/h group, P = 0.001. There was no difference in the mode of delivery, maternal or neonatal complications between the three groups.
Conclusion
This study establishes a trend towards decreased incidence of prolonged labor and less vomiting in patients receiving intravenous hydration.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Handa VL, Laros RK (1993) Active phase arrest in labor: delivery in nulliparous population. Obstet Gynecol 81:758–763
Maughan RJ, Noakes TD (1991) Fluid replacement and exercise stress: a brief review of studies on fluid replacement and some guidelines for the athlete. Sports Med 12(1):16–31
Noakes TD (1993) Fluid replacement during exercise. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 21:297–330
Garite TJ, Weeks J, Peters – Phair K et al (2000) A randomized control trial of the effect of increased intravenous hydration on the course of labor in nulliparous women. Am J Obstet Gynecol 183:1544–1548
Eslamian L, Marsoosi V, Pakneeyat Y (2006) Increased intravenous fluid intake and the course of labor in nulliparous women. Int J Gynecol Obstet 93:102–105
Coco A, Derksen-Schrock A, Coco K et al (2010) A randomized trial of increased intravenous hydration in labor when oral fluid is unrestricted. Fam Med 42(1):52–56
O’Sullivan G, Scrutton M (2003) NPO during labor. Is there any scientific validation? Anesthesiol Clin North America 21(1):87–98
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Professor George A for suggesting this research idea.
Conflict of interest
The authors have no conflicts of interest.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kavitha, A., Chacko, K.P., Thomas, E. et al. A randomized controlled trial to study the effect of IV hydration on the duration of labor in nulliparous women. Arch Gynecol Obstet 285, 343–346 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-011-1978-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-011-1978-7