Oral misoprostol in the third stage of labor

Objective: To compare the efficacy of intravenous ergometrine, intramuscular oxytocin, and oral misoprostol in the control of postpartum hemorrhage. Methods: Mean blood loss, rates of blood loss between 500 and 1000 ml, hematocrit fall greater than 10%, and need for additional oxytocic agentsand nature and rates of adverse effects were assessed in this prospective, randomized, controlled study. Results: All outcomes were similar in the 3 groups. The main adverse effects in the misoprostol group were temperatures higher than 99 °F, which normalized within 2 h and shivering, which was mild and self-limiting. Conclusions: Oral misoprostol is as effective as conventional oxytocic agents in preventing postpartum hemorrhage and can be recommended for use in low-resource settings.