Why is oxytocin given after C-section?

Rajasthan has banned a suspected fake batch of oxytocin after several pregnant women died at a Kota hospital. Why is this drug so important after childbirth, especially after C-section?

In Short

• Oxytocin helps the uterus contract after childbirth and limit heavy bleeding
• Doctors call it essential during Caesarean deliveries to prevent postpartum haemorrhage
• Spinal anaesthesia and epidurals can reduce the body's natural oxytocin release

The drug oxytocin, routinely used during and after childbirth, has come under scrutiny after health authorities in Rajasthan banned a batch of oxytocin injections supplied to a government hospital following the deaths of several women who had undergone Caesarean (C-section) deliveries and uterine surgeries.

Officials said a batch of oxytocin injections manufactured by Jackson Laboratories in Amritsar was found to be fake.

The same batch had reportedly been used at the New Medical College Hospital in Kota, where multiple pregnant and postpartum women died in recent days.

As investigations continue, doctors stress that oxytocin itself is one of the most important and life-saving medicines used in maternity care worldwide.

WHY IS OXYTOCIN GIVEN AFTER A C-SECTION?

Oxytocin is a hormone naturally produced by the body. During labour and after childbirth, it helps the uterus contract.

After a baby is delivered, the uterus must contract strongly to close the blood vessels that supplied the placenta during pregnancy. If this does not happen, a woman can experience severe bleeding, known as postpartum haemorrhage, which is one of the leading causes of maternal deaths globally.

To prevent this, doctors administer synthetic oxytocin during and after a C-section.

"Oxytocin is a life-saving drug. It is definitely not optional. We have to give it. If we don't give it, the woman can bleed to death because there is no contraction of the uterus," said Dr. Nandita Palshetkar, gynaecologist and IVF specialist.

She added that giving oxytocin during Caesarean section is a standard practice worldwide and plays a crucial role in reducing maternal deaths.

PREVENTING DANGEROUS BLOOD LOSS

According to Dr Nidhi Jhawar, Consultant Fertility Specialist and Gynaecologist at Kinder Women's Hospital and Fertility Centre, Bengaluru, preventing excessive bleeding is the main reason oxytocin is given after a C-section.

"After delivery, the blood vessels that were supplying the placenta are suddenly left open. Oxytocin acts like a natural tourniquet by contracting the uterine muscles and closing these vessels," she explained.

This helps reduce blood loss and lowers the risk of postpartum haemorrhage.

WHY THE BODY NEEDS EXTRA OXYTOCIN AFTER SURGERY

During a vaginal birth, the body naturally releases large amounts of oxytocin as the baby moves through the birth canal.

However, things are different during a C-section.

Dr. Jhawar explained that spinal anaesthesia and epidurals used during surgery can reduce the nerve signals that trigger the body's natural oxytocin release.

As a result, synthetic oxytocin is needed to ensure the uterus contracts properly after delivery.

HELPING DELIVER THE PLACENTA

Oxytocin also helps the placenta separate from the wall of the uterus after the baby is born.

Strong uterine contractions help expel the placenta and membranes safely, reducing the risk of complications after childbirth.

SUPPORTING BREASTFEEDING AND BONDING

While its primary role after a C-section is to prevent bleeding, oxytocin is also known as the "love hormone" or "milk let-down hormone."

The hormone helps stimulate breast milk release and supports bonding between the mother and newborn.

Doctors say these effects are an added benefit, although the medicine's most important role in the operating room is preventing life-threatening blood loss.

While the probe into the suspected fake oxytocin batch continues, doctors emphasise that oxytocin remains a cornerstone of safe childbirth care and is considered essential after a C-section to protect mothers from severe bleeding and related complications.

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