Is Oxytocin Administration During Childbirth Associated With Increased Risk for Postpartum Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms? A Preliminary Investigation

Introduction: Synthetic oxytocin is one of the most regularly administered medications to facilitate labor induction and augmentation. The present study examined the associations between oxytocin administration during childbirth and postpartum posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Materials and Methods: In a multicenter longitudinal study, women completed questionnaires during pregnancy and at 2 months postpartum (N = 386). PTSS were assessed with the Impact of Event Scale. Logistic regression was used to examine the difference in PTSS at Time 2 between women who received oxytocin and women who did not. Results: In comparison with women who did not receive oxytocin, women who received oxytocin induction were 3.20 times as likely to report substantial PTSS (P = .036, 95% confidence interval: 1.08-9.52), and women who received oxytocin augmentation were 3.29 times as likely to report substantial PTSS (P = .036, 95% confidence interval: 1.08-10.03), after controlling for being primiparous, preeclampsia, prior mental health diagnosis, mode of birth, postpartum hemorrhage, and satisfaction with staff. Discussion: Oxytocin administration was associated with a 3-fold increased risk of PTSS. The findings may reflect biological and psychological mechanisms related to postpartum mental health and call for future research to establish the causation of this relationship.