NORMAL SALINE IV FLUID LOAD DECREASES UTERINE ACTIVITY IN ACTIVE LABOR

This study was designed to observe the effects of i.v. fluid infusion on uterine activity during normal labour in women receiving an extradu ral block. Thirty-four women in spontaneous labour at term gestation w ere allocated randomly and prospectively to one of three i.v. pre-extr adural fluid load groups: group A, no fluid load; group B, normal sali ne 500 ml; and group C, normal saline 1000 ml. Continuous internal mea surement of uterine activity was observed before, during and after flu id infusion and extradural block. In groups A and B, uterine activity did not change. In group C, uterine activity decreased after infusion of saline (P < 0.01) and returned to baseline over the next 20 min. Ex tradural block was not associated with a change in uterine activity. H ypotension was not increased in the group that received no fluid prelo ad.