Normal Saline and Dextrose-Saline Infusion Comparison in the Duration of Active Phase in Nulliparous Women

During labor, it is not unusual for women to have little or no nutrient intake, in spite of the fact that the demand for energy increases as a result of skeletal and smooth muscle contractions. The objective of the study was to compare the effects of intravenous normal saline with dextrose-saline on the duration of active phase in nulliparous women. In this randomized clinical trial, 174 nulliparous women with gestational age of ? 36 weeks in the active phase of spontaneous labor were divided into two groups, receiving either normal saline (NS) or dextrose 5% in normal saline (D5NS) with a rate of 120 mL/hour. The primary outcome was the duration of active phase of labor in vaginally-delivered subjects. The secondary outcomes were the duration of second stage of labor, need to oxytocin, and neonate Apgar score. Data were analyzed with t-test and chi-squared test. Of 174 objects enrolled, 150 women delivered vaginally and completed the study. There was a significant difference in the duration of active phase between the groups (NS: 270.20 ± 13.37 minutes; D5NS: 206.67 ± 11.72 minutes) (P < 0.001) and second stage of labor (NS: 45.20 ± 1.65 minutes; D5NS: 37.27 ± 1.73 minutes) (P < 0.001). No significant difference was observed in the need to oxytocin as well as in Apgar score between the groups. The administration of dextrose saline was associated with a shortened active phase and second stage of labor in vaginally delivered nulliparous women