COMPARISON OF ACTIVE VERSUS EXPECTANT MANAGEMENT OF THIRD STAGE OF LABOUR

Objective: To find out the difference between active and expectant management of third stage of labour in terms of amount of blood loss and duration of third stage of labour. Methodology: This quasi experimental study was conducted in the Unit “B” of department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lady Reading Hospital from June - December 2006. A total of 100 patients were included in the study, out of which 50 patients under went active management of third stage of labour (AMTSL) and 50 patients had expectant management. Formal consent was obtained from all the patients. Apart from the demographic data, details regarding the amount of blood loss and duration of third stage were recorded on a semi structured proforma and analyzed by using Chi Square test, with p value of 0.05 considered as significant. Result: In the active management group most of the patients had blood loss less than 100ml while in the expectant group most of the blood loss was between 100-200ml. Mean blood loss in the active group was 72.5±36.83ml and expectant group was 177.4±59.65ml , p value 0.001. Similarly the difference in the duration of the third stage was statistically significant between the two groups (p value 0.001). Conclusion: AMTSL was associated with statistically significant decrease in the blood loss and shorter duration of third stage of labour.