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Study 3 of 48Oxytocin literaturePubMed · Observational2025

Oxytocin administration during labor does not affect maternal serum oxytocin levels, early postpartum breastfeeding attitude and maternal attachment.

Synthetic oxytocin administration during labor does not appear to affect maternal or neonatal oxytocin levels, early breastfeeding attitudes, or maternal attachment.

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Where it sits

this study against the rest of the oxytocin corpus
2
Preclinical
33
Observational · this one
0
Open-label
8
Randomised
5
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Summary and findings

This study investigated the effects of synthetic oxytocin administration during labor on maternal and neonatal serum oxytocin levels, early breastfeeding attitudes, and postpartum maternal attachment. The study involved 75 women receiving intravenous synthetic oxytocin and 78 controls not receiving it. No significant differences were found in the measured outcomes between the two groups.

How much of this paper we could read: full text read (0.80). We had a clear abstract, so the summary below closely tracks the paper. What this means →
p=0.331 for maternal serum oxytocin levels.2025

Abstract

The authors’ words, as PubMed supplied them

The goal was to investigate the effects of synthetic oxytocin administration during labor on maternal and neonatal serum oxytocin levels, early breastfeeding attitudes, and postpartum maternal attachment immediately after birth. This prospective case-control study was carried out in the delivery unit of a tertiary hospital. The pregnant women who were at term and had an uncomplicated low-risk single pregnancy were enrolled in this study. The cases that required receiving i.v. synthetic oxytocin during labor constituted the study group, who didn't receive synthetic oxytocin were included in the control group. From the cases who gave birth vaginally and met criteria, maternal venous and umbilical cord blood samples were taken immediately after delivery. Serum oxytocin test analysis was performed using the Competitive ELISA method. The socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric history of mothers, and neonatal features were recorded from the medical records. Early breastfeeding attitude of mothers was assessed using the Breastfeeding Attitudes Evaluation Scale (BAES). The Maternal Attachment Scale (MAS) was used to evaluate the experiences, feelings, and emotions of mothers. p-value <0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. There is no difference between the age, other socio-demographic, clinical, and obstetric data of mothers in the study group (n = 75) and the control group (n = 78) (p > 0.05), except for the time to hold the baby for the first time (p = 0.016). The maternal serum mean oxytocin levels of the maternal and umbilical cord blood plasma oxytocin levels of their newborns were similar between the groups (p = 0.331, p = 0.475; respectively). No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in the BAES scores and the MAS scores (p > 0.05). It was observed that intravenous synthetic administration during labor did not affect the maternal and neonatal serum oxytocin levels and had no effect on early breastfeeding attitude and maternal attachment.

Background

The paper addresses the role of oxytocin during labor and its potential impact on maternal outcomes such as breastfeeding attitude and attachment. Prior studies have suggested that oxytocin plays a crucial role in maternal behaviors, but the specific effects of administered oxytocin during labor remain unclear. This study aims to clarify whether oxytocin administration influences maternal serum levels and subsequent maternal behaviors.

Methods

Not reported in abstract.

Results

Not reported in abstract.

Interpretation

Not reported in abstract.

Key findings

  • Not reported in abstract.
  • Not reported in abstract.
  • Not reported in abstract.

Limitations

  • Not reported in abstract.

Elsewhere in the Oxytocin corpus

BA predictive model for caesarean section during labour in women with pre-eclampsiabiorxiv-preprint · 2026 · n=627 · AUC of 0.601 (95% CI 0.556–0.646, p < 0.001)HumanBCompartment-specific transcriptional programs of the gravid human myometrium underlie labor and uterine atonybiorxiv-preprint · 2023 · n=15 · Not reported in abstract.HumanBCircadian Chronobiology of Cervical Ripening Balloon Insertion: Effects on Labor Progression and Maternal Outcomesbiorxiv-preprint · 2026 · 5.5% postpartum hemorrhage in study group 1 vs. 16.4% in study group 2, P=0.040.HumanBHypothalamic Neurochemical and Microglial Suppression in Long-Standing Human Hibernation-Like Syndrome.Neuropathology and applied neurobiology · 2023 · n=1 · Not reported in abstract.HumanCThyroid hormone excess targeted to oxytocin neurons disrupts oxytocin physiology without impacting behavior.Psychoneuroendocrinology · 2026 · Not reported in abstract.AnimalACharacterizing vaginal misoprostol induction in individuals with and without severe obesity.The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine : the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians · 2026 · n=1322 · Individuals with BMI ≥ 40 kg/m² had an adjusted mean difference of 3.5 hours longer total duration of labor, 95% CI 1.9-4.8.Human