How Maternal Obesity May Increase Oxytocin Needed for Vaginal Birth

Overall, 2.6% of women required oxytocin rates >20 mU/min to achieve vaginal delivery.

• Thirty-three percent of deliveries were among women classified as overweight, and 58% were classified as obese.
• Among obese women, those with class III obesity experienced significantly longer oxytocin exposure (10.7 hours) compared to normal weight women (8.2 hours).
• Women with class III obesity also had a higher maximum rate of oxytocin (10 mU/min) compared to normal weight women (8 mU/min).
• Doses of oxytocin >20 mU/min were required by 2.6% of women in the overweight group, and lower percentages in the class I (1.9%) and class II (1.6%) obesity groups.

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