Abstract
Objective
To investigate the use of the oral prostaglandin E1 analogue, misoprostol in the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage.
Design
A prospective observational study.
Setting
A university teaching hospital.
Participants
Two hundred and thirty‐seven consecutive women undergoing vaginal delivery.
Methods
All the women were given 600 μg oral misoprostol just after delivery.
Main outcome measures
Rates of postpartum haemorrhage; need for therapeutic oxytocic drugs; retained placenta and length of the third stage of labour.
Results
Postpartum haemorrhage occurred in 6% of the women; the need for therapeutic oxytocics in 5%, retained placenta in 2% and the median length of the third stage was 5 min. Vomiting and diarrhoea in the first hour after delivery occurred in 8% and 3% respectively and shivering in 60%.
Conclusions
Misoprostol may be effective in the prevention of postpartum haemorrhage, and has few side effects. A double blind randomised trial is required.