Influence of umbilical vein administration of oxytocin on the third stage of labor: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the influence of umbilical vein administration of oxytocin on the third stage of labor. Five minutes after delivery, 37 women received 10 units of oxytocin diluted in physiologic saline solution to a total volume of 20 ml; 41 women received 20 ml of saline solution alone. There was no significant difference between groups in mean (+/- SD) injection-placental expulsion interval (9 +/- 7 versus 10 +/- 8 minutes).