Breast stimulation test and oxytocin challenge test in fetal surveillance: a prospective randomized study

Fifty healthy gravidas with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies at a gestational age of 35 to 42 weeks were assigned at random for the performance of either a breast stimulation test or an oxytocin challenge test after a nonreactive nonstress test. A satisfactory contraction stress test was achieved in 21 of 25 women in the breast stimulation test group and in 24 of 25 women in the oxytocin challenge test group (nonsignificant difference). Significant differences were found in the cumulative rate of achieved contraction stress tests: in the breast stimulation test group 17 of 21 after 20 minutes and 21 of 21 at 50 minutes whereas in the oxytocin challenge test group only four of 24 at 20 minutes, eight of 24 at 50 minutes, and 21 of 24 at 150 minutes. The mean duration for the achievement of a contraction stress test was 20.9 +/- 11.5 minutes for the breast stimulation test group and 81.3 +/- 48.4 minutes in the oxytocin challenge test group. Uterine hyperstimulation occurred once in each group. No gravida went into labor within 24 hours. Breast stimulation test is a satisfactory alternative to the oxytocin challenge test, is less time-consuming, and is simpler to perform.