Iran Journal of Nursing

  A quasi experimental study was conducted in the labour rooms of one of the hospital's of the University of

  Medical Science of Iran, to compare the effect ofcord blood drainage and oxytocin injection into the umblicat

  vein in the duration of the third stage of labour.

  A total of 180 women in the course of normal pregnancies with no complications and normal vaginal

  dd ivery were selected randomly and divided in three groups. Each group consisted of 60 patients and were

  designated as drainage, oxytocin and control group. All three groups received equally proper rou tine care in

  the delivery room. Further, the second group after completion of the birth of the fetus had the cord blood

  drained by the researcher and the third group also , aft er the completion of the birth ofthe fetus received

  10 units of oxytocin diluted in /0 ml of normal saline through the umbhcal vein. All three groups were

  matched and were similar, with the exception of placental weight, which was significantly lighter than the

  other two.

  Comparing the two intervention groups with control group the result showed that the drainage of the

  placental blood from the cord has no effect on the duration of the third stage ofthe labour (t= 0.232).

  Yet oxytocin injection into the umblical vein significantly reduced the duration of the third stage of the

  labour (p< 0.005,t=3.824). In this study the two intervention groups were also compared: The results showed

  that the oxytocin group had a shorter third stage of labour. It can be said thar the latter method is more

  effective in facilitating placental ejection than cord blood drainge (p< 0.005,t=3.593).

  It is recommended measures be provided for a smoother and shorter course of third slllge of labour.