A low dose oxytocin regime for induction and augmentation of labour

A low dose oxytocin regime was used in Labour Ward, Alexandra Hospital for the induction and augmentation of labour. It utilised an oxytocin infusion administered in an arithmetic progression from 1 to 16 mU in a peristaltic infusion pump. A total of 100 patients (67 for augmentation and 33 for induction of labour) classified according to parity were studied. An overall vaginal delivery rate of 87% was obtained. The overall mean durations of labour for nulliparous and multiparous patients were 6.6 hours (S.D. +/- 2.9 hours) and 4.9 hours (S.D. +/- 2.8 hours) respectively. The mean induction delivery time for nulliparous patients was 6.4 hours (S.D. +/- 3.2 hours) and for multiparous patients it was 4.0 hours (S.D. +/- 2.2 hours). About 69% of the nulliparae and 94% of the multiparae who were induced delivered within 9 hours. All the induced patients delivered within 12 hours. Neonatal outcome was good as assessed by Apgar score.