Research Article

The Association between Synthetic Oxytocin Administration During Labor and Birth Interventions, Maternal Anxiety, and Newborn Stress Levels: A Comparative Study

Number: 30 August 31, 2026
TR EN

The Association between Synthetic Oxytocin Administration During Labor and Birth Interventions, Maternal Anxiety, and Newborn Stress Levels: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Aim: The objective of this study was to examine the associations between synthetic oxytocin administration during labor, birth intervention rates, maternal anxiety levels, and newborn stress levels.

Method: This cross-sectional analytical study included 300 postpartum women divided into two groups: those who received synthetic oxytocin (n=197) and those who did not (n=103). Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Labor Observation Form, State Anxiety Inventory (SAI), and Newborn Stress Scale (NSS). Multivariable regression analyses were performed to assess the independent associations while adjusting for potential obstetric and sociodemographic confounders.

Results: In unadjusted analyses, fundal pressure, placental retention, and episiotomy rates were higher in the synthetic oxytocin group (p<0.05). Women in this group also had higher SAI scores (51.43±3.39 vs. 50.11±3.54, p=0.040). and higher newborn stress levels  (p=0.002). After adjusting for potential confounders in multivariable logistic regression, synthetic oxytocin administration remained significantly associated with increased odds of episiotomy (OR=2.04, 95% CI: 1.02–4.00, p=0.042) and placental retention (OR=7.14, 95% CI: 1.49–33.33, p=0.014). However, multivariable linear regression models for maternal anxiety (p=0.077) and newborn stress (p=0.052) did not reach overall statistical significance, indicating that these specific factors should not be interpreted as independently associated with oxytocin administration.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that synthetic oxytocin administration is associated with higher rates of specific obstetric interventions such as episiotomy and placental retention. Due to overall model limitations, the independent relationships regarding maternal anxiety and neonatal stress should be interpreted with caution. Healthcare professionals should prioritize individualized, evidence-based labor management to minimize unnecessary medical interventions.

Keywords

References

  1. 1. Göçen NN, Amanak K. Efectele inducției travaliului asupra legăturii postpartum mamă-copil și a nivelului de anxietate [The effects of labor induction on postpartum mother-infant bonding and anxiety levels]. JBM. 2022:17–25. doi: 10.31926/jmb.2022.1.1.
  2. 2. Romano AM, Lothian JA. Promoting, protecting, and supporting normal birth: a look at the evidence. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing. 2008;37(1):94–105.
  3. 3. Erickson EN, Bailey JM, Colo SD, Carlson NS, Tilden EL. Induction of labor or expectant management? Birth outcomes for nulliparous individuals choosing midwifery care. Birth. 2021;48(4):501–513. doi: 10.1111/birt.12560.
  4. 4. Mc Carthy FP, Kenny LC. Induction of labour. Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Reproductive Medicine. 2014;24(1):9–15. doi: 10.1016/j.ogrm.2013.11.004.
  5. 5. Budak MŞ, Kaya C, Akgöl S, et al. Labor Induction with prostaglandin e2- experience of a maternity and children’s disease hospital. The Journal of Gynecology - Obstetrics and Neonatology. 2013;13(2):61–64.
  6. 6. Demirel G, Çelik Bilgiç D. Doğal doğuma müdahale: sentetik oksitosin kullanımı. düzeylerinin incelenmesi. STED / Sürekli Tıp Eğitimi Dergisi. 2013;22(4):157–162.
  7. 7. Bal Şaraldi H, Eki̇n P, Karaçam Z. Doğumda indüksiyon uygulanma durumunun acil sezaryen doğuma etkisi. Karya Journal of Health Science. 2023;4(3):192–198.
  8. 8. Clark SL, Miller DD, Belfort MA, Dildy GA, Frye DK, Meyers JA. Neonatal and maternal outcomes associated with elective term delivery. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2009;200(2):156.e1-156.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2008.08.068.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Clinical Midwifery

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

August 31, 2026

Publication Date

August 31, 2026

Submission Date

June 30, 2025

Acceptance Date

July 30, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 30

APA
Öztaş, H. G., Sabancı Baransel, E., & Keçeli, M. N. (2026). The Association between Synthetic Oxytocin Administration During Labor and Birth Interventions, Maternal Anxiety, and Newborn Stress Levels: A Comparative Study. Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Health Sciences, 30, 614-629. https://doi.org/10.38079/igusabder.1730302
AMA
1.Öztaş HG, Sabancı Baransel E, Keçeli MN. The Association between Synthetic Oxytocin Administration During Labor and Birth Interventions, Maternal Anxiety, and Newborn Stress Levels: A Comparative Study. IGUSABDER. 2026;(30):614-629. doi:10.38079/igusabder.1730302
Chicago
Öztaş, Hatice Gül, Esra Sabancı Baransel, and Melek Nur Keçeli. 2026. “The Association Between Synthetic Oxytocin Administration During Labor and Birth Interventions, Maternal Anxiety, and Newborn Stress Levels: A Comparative Study”. Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Health Sciences, nos. 30: 614-29. https://doi.org/10.38079/igusabder.1730302.
EndNote
Öztaş HG, Sabancı Baransel E, Keçeli MN (August 1, 2026) The Association between Synthetic Oxytocin Administration During Labor and Birth Interventions, Maternal Anxiety, and Newborn Stress Levels: A Comparative Study. Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Health Sciences 30 614–629.
IEEE
[1]H. G. Öztaş, E. Sabancı Baransel, and M. N. Keçeli, “The Association between Synthetic Oxytocin Administration During Labor and Birth Interventions, Maternal Anxiety, and Newborn Stress Levels: A Comparative Study”, IGUSABDER, no. 30, pp. 614–629, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.38079/igusabder.1730302.
ISNAD
Öztaş, Hatice Gül - Sabancı Baransel, Esra - Keçeli, Melek Nur. “The Association Between Synthetic Oxytocin Administration During Labor and Birth Interventions, Maternal Anxiety, and Newborn Stress Levels: A Comparative Study”. Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Health Sciences. 30 (August 1, 2026): 614-629. https://doi.org/10.38079/igusabder.1730302.
JAMA
1.Öztaş HG, Sabancı Baransel E, Keçeli MN. The Association between Synthetic Oxytocin Administration During Labor and Birth Interventions, Maternal Anxiety, and Newborn Stress Levels: A Comparative Study. IGUSABDER. 2026;:614–629.
MLA
Öztaş, Hatice Gül, et al. “The Association Between Synthetic Oxytocin Administration During Labor and Birth Interventions, Maternal Anxiety, and Newborn Stress Levels: A Comparative Study”. Istanbul Gelisim University Journal of Health Sciences, no. 30, Aug. 2026, pp. 614-29, doi:10.38079/igusabder.1730302.
Vancouver
1.Hatice Gül Öztaş, Esra Sabancı Baransel, Melek Nur Keçeli. The Association between Synthetic Oxytocin Administration During Labor and Birth Interventions, Maternal Anxiety, and Newborn Stress Levels: A Comparative Study. IGUSABDER. 2026 Aug. 1;(30):614-29. doi:10.38079/igusabder.1730302

 Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)