Women’s views and experiences of augmentation of labour with synthetic oxytocin infusion: a protocol for a qualitative evidence synthesis

Background: Augmentation of labour (AOL) is the most common intervention to treat labour dystocia. Previous research reported extensive disparities in AOL rates across countries and institutions. Despite its widespread use, women’s views on and experiences of intrapartum augmentation with infused synthetic oxytocin are limited. Methods: A qualitative evidence synthesis on women’s views and experiences of AOL with synthetic oxytocin after spontaneous onset of labour will be conducted. Qualitative studies and studies employing a mixed methods design, where qualitative data can be extracted separately, will be included, as will surveys with open-ended questions that provide qualitative data. A systematic search will be performed of the databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Maternity and Infant Care and Web of Science Core Collection from the date of inception. The methodological quality of included studies will be assessed using the Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre’s appraisal tool. A three-stage approach, coding of data from primary studies, development of descriptive themes and generation of analytical themes, will be used to synthesise findings. Confidence in findings will be established by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation-Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research. Discussion: This qualitative evidence synthesis may provide valuable information on women’s experiences of AOL and contribute to a review of clinical practice guidelines for maternity care providers. PROSPERO registration: CRD42021285252 (14/11/2021)

Oxytocin increases perceived competence and social-emotional engagement with brands

Humans express loyalty to consumer brands much like they do in human relationships. The neuroactive chemical oxytocin is an important biological substrate of human attachment and this study tested whether consumer-brand relationships can be influenced by oxytocin administration. We present a mathematical model of brand attachment that generates empirically-testable hypotheses. The model is tested by administering synthetic oxytocin or placebo to male and female participants (N = 77) who received information about brands and had an opportunity to purchase branded products. We focused on two brand personality dimensions: warmth and competence. Oxytocin increased perceptions of brand competence but not brand warmth relative to placebo. We also found that participants were willing to pay more for branded products through its effect on brand competence. When writing about one’s favorite brands, oxytocin enhanced the use of positive emotional language as well as words related to family and friends. These findings provide preliminary evidence that consumers build relationships with brands using the biological mechanisms that evolved to form human attachments.

Postpartum haemorrhage and synthetic oxytocin dilutions in labour

This study investigated postpartum haemorrhage and historic oxytocin usage, because haemorrhage rates are rising. During the evolution of practice from intravenous bovine post-pituitary extract to synthetic oxytocin, experimental interventions had produced improved outcomes in certain cases and the postpartum haemorrhage rate was low. In this study, current synthetic oxytocin regimes from across the UK were compared with the 1977 (unchanged) licensed instructions for infusion. As a result of the pain-inducing properties of synthetic oxytocin, epidural analgesia prior to infusion is now standard for unlicensed regimes, adding complexity to intrapartum care and greater risks of complex births, as the fetus may be adversely affected by epidural drugs and acidosis. Unlicensed synthetic oxytocin dilutions and increments, the desensitising of oxytocin receptors, and unmeasured error factors in infusion pumps affect labour progress and outcomes. Today's rates of postpartum haemorrhage are associated with these changes to obstetric practice. Failure to inform women of intended unlicensed practices with synthetic oxytocin, or obtain consent for such, or offer licensed practice as standard constitutes neglect of the legal obligations outlined for doctors and midwives by professional Codes of Practice, intended to protect patients from predictable dangers.

Natural and Synthetic Oxytocin—Structurally Same but Differ in Effects—A Pilot Study

Purpose: synthetic oxytocin is currently used to induce labor and strengthen the contractile function in the first or second stage of labor. It is also used therapeutically and prophylactically in the third stage of labor. We aimed to correlate the dose and duration of synthetic oxytocin infusions used during induction of labor, augmentation of labor in the first and second stage of labor, and during active management of labor in the third stage of labor to the level of prolactin and cortisol in the serum of the parturient blood and from the umbilical cord vein.Methods: The mother’s blood was collected from a venous vessel and foetal from the umbilical cord vein just cutting was performed and the levels of cortisol and prolactin was evaluated by electrochemiluminescence (ECLIA). The blood sample from the umbilical cord vein and artery were collected to separate heparinized capillaries and the pH, base deficit (BD), pO2, and CO2 concentration were assessed.Results: We observed decreased level of prolactin immediately after the labor depending on the total dose of synthetic oxytocin used. We did not observe any relationship between the level of prolactin on postpartum day 2 on the dose of administered hormone or the fact of the labor induction. We observed significant correlations with regard to hormone levels without the synthetic oxytocin total dosage correlation. Conclusion: We strongly believe that the definition of uniform norms and principles with regard to the dosage of synthetic oxytocin for labor induction should be determined.