Association of Using Oxytocin during Labor and Breastfeeding Behaviors of Infants within Two Hours after Birth

Opioids are used to relieve pain during labor and may affect the neurobehavioral conditions of infants. However, effects of using drugs, such as oxytocin, as a routine component of pre- and post-delivery care on the breastfeeding behaviors of newborns remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the association between the maternal use of oxytocin during labor and breastfeeding behaviors of neonates within two hours after birth.
This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 160 women selected via convenience sampling. The participants were assigned to two groups of oxytocin administration (n=70) and physiologic delivery (n=90). Data were collected using demographic questionnaires and infant breastfeeding assessment tool (IBFAT). IBFAT was completed by the researcher through observing the behaviors of infants during breastfeeding after birth. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 20, using descriptive and analytical statistics, including independent t-test, correlation-coefficients, and analysis of variance.
Mean age of the mothers in the oxytocin administration and physiologic delivery groups was 26.9±5.9 and 27.8±5.5 years, respectively. Breastfeeding was significantly stronger in the infants whose mothers had physiologic delivery compared to the group administered with oxytocin during labor.
According to the results, use of oxytocin during labor directly weakens the breastfeeding of neonates. Therefore, it seems necessary to inform and prepare women for physiologic delivery during pregnancy