Oxytocin Dosing at Planned Cesarean Section and Anemia

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of differential dose protocols commonly utilized in the post cesarean period to determine if laboratory definitions of anemia are different. Oxytocin is an antidiuretic hormone that is utilized after delivery of the fetus and placenta to contract the uterus and decrease blood loss both at the time of surgery and in the post-partum period. Here at the Penn State Hershey Medical center the investigators will use 20 units of oxytocin in a 1 L bag of LR in bolus fashion after delivery of the placenta. Other protocols use an extended course of therapy using 20 units of oxytocin in a 1 L bag of LR in a bolus plus an additional 20 units of oxytocin in a 1 L bag of LR over an 8 hour period of time.

We hypothesize that:

- Women who receive the standard 20 mU of oxytocin in 1L of LR in bolus fashion plus 20 mU in 1L over 8 hours will have a decreased reduction in pre-operative vs post-operative hematocrit and hemoglobin versus those that receive 20 mU in 1L of LR.

- Women who receive the standard 20 mU of oxytocin in 1L of LR in bolus fashion plus 20 mU in 1L over 8 hours will have decreased blood loss by weight in the postpartum period compared to patients who receive 20 mU in 1L of LR.