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A change in how oxytocin is administered after childbirth may help reduce postpartum hemorrhage, a new study suggests.

The Michigan Medicine–led study in Obstetrics & Gynecology evaluated a quality improvement initiative that introduced a higher-dose oxytocin protocol during the third stage of labor.

Among 2,674 births reviewed at University of Michigan Health Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital, the rate of postpartum hemorrhage decreased significantly, driven by a reduction among patients with vaginal births.

"Our commitment to maternal health means continually evaluating our practices and looking for opportunities to strengthen the prevention and management of obstetric complications," said lead author Jourdan "Jourdie" Triebwasser, M.D., M.A., an obstetrician-gynecologist at U-M Health Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital and a researcher at Michigan Medicine.

"Our findings suggest that a simple change to a high-dose oxytocin protocol was associated with a meaningful reduction in postpartum hemorrhage."

Postpartum hemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal illness and death. Although oxytocin is widely used to help the uterus contract and reduce bleeding after birth, the optimal dose and administration protocol continue to be studied.

The initiative described in the study increased the oxytocin dose administered to birthing women during the first hour after birth from 30 units under the hospital's standard protocol to 60 units under the updated protocol. Implementation included changes to medication orders and infusion pumps, along with staff education and training.

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