Oxygen Inhalation in The Immediate Postpartum Period Which Reduces Vaginal Blood Loss

A study was undertaken to assess the effect of oxygen inhalation immediately after normal delivery on blood loss. Hence, prospective randomized controlled study was conducted over a period of 12 months at the obstetric unit of upgraded primary health center, Kundrathur. Women who are normally delivering vaginally will be alternatively allocated to either receive 4L/minute of oxygen via a nasal canulla for 2 hours after the third stage of labor (study group) or breathe room air (control group) in addition to conventional management. The study showed that oxygen inhalation is likely to be effective in reducing the normal vaginal blood loss postpartum during first hours and second hours with a significance of p= 0.000 at <0.00. The difference in respiration noted was a p = 0.013 at 5% level of significance between the two groups, the partial pressure of oxygen in the arterial blood of the oxygen inhaled group could have been much greater.