Oxytocin
Topic: Maternity
A hormone released from the posterior pituitary that stimulates uterine contractions and milk let-down; its synthetic form is used to induce or augment labor and to prevent postpartum hemorrhage. It is a high-alert drug given by infusion pump. Monitor contraction frequency and duration, uterine relaxation and the fetal heart rate, and stop the infusion for tachysystole (more than 5 contractions in 10 minutes, averaged over 30 minutes) or a nonreassuring fetal heart rate pattern. Prolonged use can cause water intoxication.
- In Turkish:
- Oksitosin
What does Oxytocin mean?
Oxytocin is part of the Maternity topic in nursing. Students meet it in class, on clinical placements and while preparing for exams.
Search the whole glossary, add terms to your sets and review them in the Finito Nursing app.