Breast Stimulation vs. Low Dose Oxytocin Augmentation for Labor Induction

Introduction The primary cause of uterine scars is a previous cesarean. In women with a previous cesarean, the risks of maternal complications are rare and similar after a trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC) and after an elective repeat cesarean delivery (ERCD), but the risk of uterine rupture is higher with TOLAC (0.2-0.8%)[1] . Maternal morbidity in women with previous cesareans is higher when TOLAC fails than when it leads to successful vaginal delivery[2]. Although maternal morbidity increases progressively with the number of ERCD, maternal morbidity of TOLAC decreases with the number of successful previous TOLAC[2].

Induction of labor is a common procedure undertaken whenever the benefits of prompt delivery outweigh the risks of expectant management. The goal of labor induction is to ensure the best possible outcome for mother and newborn[3].

For women after cesarean delivery labor should be induced only for medical indications[4]. Induction during TOLAC moderately increases the risk of cesarean delivery during labor, but approximately doubles the risk of uterine rupture compared with spontaneous labor in women with uterine scars[4].

Breast stimulation for inducing uterine contractions has been reported in the medical literature since the 18th century.

The American college of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has described nipple stimulation as a natural and inexpensive nonmedical method for inducing labor. Stimulation of the nipple by manual rolling of the nipple as well as by the breast pump has been used for performing contraction stress tests, induction or augmentation of labor and for reducing blood loss in the third stage of labor[5]. Nipple and uterine stimulation reduce the frequency of elective labor induction, the rate of relevant complications, and support normal vaginal birth by providing endogenous labor induction[6]. The mechanical uterotonic effect of breast stimulation is well recognized and described as a means of facilitating uterine contractions[7][8]. Breast stimulation can ripen the cervix in term pregnancy, seen as dilation and effacement, causing a change in Bishop score and increasing the incidence of spontaneous labor[9][10][11] A systematic review previously reported that breast stimulation for labor induction reduced the number of women who were not in labor after 72 h [12].

The success rate of breast stimulation in causing spontaneous labor varies from 45% to 84% of women undergoing induction of labor in term pregnancy[7][9][13] In a study published by Shalev et al. (1990), the effect of breast stimulation on the prostaglandin secretion was tested in 13 patients at 38-40 weeks of gestation. Uterine contractions following breast stimulation were documented in all cases. There was an increase in prostaglandin metabolite levels 10 min after breast stimulation[8]. Breast stimulation was also found to cause elevation in plasma and salivary oxytocin levels[5][14].

Oxytocin is a key hormone in childbirth, and synthetic oxytocin is widely administered to induce or speed labor. In women with a favorable cervix, combined use of amniotomy and intravenous oxytocin is generally the most effective approach[3]. A systematic review published by Uvnäs-Moberg et al. (2019) stated that oxytocin levels following infusion of synthetic oxytocin up to 10 millinuits/minute (mU/min) were similar to oxytocin levels in physiological labor[14]. Oxytocin in the circulation stimulates uterine contractions, and oxytocin released within the brain influences maternal physiology and behavior during birth.

Regarding the choice of induction using synthetic oxytocin vs. breast stimulation, a study by Mashini et al. (1987) found that a significant increase in uterine activity, measured by internal pressure catheter and quantified in Montevideo units, occurred in both treatments. [15]. The authors stated that exogenous oxytocin and intermittent nipple stimulation may not have equivalent effects on uterine contractility, since 20% of women induced by breast stimulation did not achieve adequate contraction patterns after 15 stimulation-rest cycles (a total of 110 min). Breast stimulation in this study was performed manually by the gravida by stroking the nipple using the palmar surface of the hand over the gown for two minutes followed by a five-minute rest period.

The use of breast stimulation could be recommended when oxytocin is advised to be given with caution or low doses for higher risk pregnancies. A retrospective study in 135 women by Segal et al. (1995) concluded that breast stimulation in grandmultiparas (birth number 6 and above) and in women with a previous cesarean section is efficacious and safe[13]. The results did not specify the P value of analysis between the study groups, failed to define a group of patients in whom the success rate of induction by breast stimulation significantly differed from that of other groups, and stated that "studies comparing breast stimulation with oxytocin may further define its role." Women with a history of one prior cesarean section scar or grandmultipara are deemed to have a relative contraindication to induction of labor with high-dose oxytocin for the risk of uterine rupture or overstimulation.

In this study, the researchers aim to define the preferred mode of augmentation for such cases.

Study design A prospective single-center randomized controlled trial (*Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya) Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants before randomization.

Aim: To examine the difference and finding the preferred mode of birth augmentation for women with a history of one prior cesarean section scar and in grandmultiparas. For each type of augmentation, an assessment will be made of Montevideo levels that indicate effective augmentation.

Inclusion criteria:

1. Singleton vertex gestations at or beyond 37 weeks of gestation
2. History of one prior cesarean section scar or grandmultipara (birth number 6 and above),
3. Spontaneous onset of labor or after labor induction by Foley balloon catheter
4. Determined by the obstetrics care team that augmentation was needed.
5. Augmentation will be initiated at or beyond 2.5 cm dilation, with or without ruptured membranes and uterine activity less than 3 contractions in 10 min on tocodynamometry.

Exclusion criteria:

1. History of two prior cesarean section scars
2. Younger than 18 years
3. Any contraindication for vaginal birth (placenta previa, vasa previa, cord presentation, inadequate pelvis, prior uterine rupture),
4. Fetuses in nonvertex presentation
5. fetuses with suspected life-limiting anomalies,
6. Suspected abruption or bleeding of unknown origin,
7. Women who did not agree to the enter the study.

Endpoints Primary endpoint: Time interval from augmentation to delivery Secondary endpoints: Montevideo units measured in the active first and second stage of labor, women who achieved vaginal delivery, gravida satisfaction for augmentation treatment, clinical chorioamnionitis, endometritis, postpartum hemorrhage, Apgar score 3 or less at 5 minutes, umbilical artery acidemia, neonatal intensive care unit admission, perinatal death, and severe perinatal morbidity composite Study hypothesis: A significant difference in time interval from augmentation to delivery will be measured between breast stimulation vs. low-dose oxytocin augmentation.

Methods Pregnant women satisfying the enrollment criteria and providing informed consent will be randomly selected for augmentation by breast pump for breast stimulation (as described below) or by an IV low-dose oxytocin course (starting dose 0.5-2 mU/min and increasing the dose incrementally by 1-2mU\min every 15-40 min). Both augmentation treatments will be continued for a maximum of 12 hours.

Breast pump for breast stimulation: The suction cup will be placed on the breast, held by the patient or a strap, alternated between nipples every 15 minutes, with a pause of 15 minutes after each 30 minutes. Suction intensity will be adjusted to the maximum tolerated by the patient while avoiding pain or discomfort.

Augmentation will be initiated at or beyond 2.5 cm dilation, minimum Bishop score of 6, with or without ruptured membranes, uterine activity less than 3 contractions in 10 minutes on tocodynamometry.

Uterine activity will be measured by an intrauterine pressure catheter that will be placed after spontaneous or artificial rupture of membranes at or beyond 2.5 cm dilation.

The augmentation will be adjusted if uterine overstimulation occurs (above 5 contractions in 10 minutes).

The augmentation will be stopped if uterine overstimulation persists, if non-reassuring fetal heart rate tracing occurs, discontinuing the treatment is deemed necessary, or following the patient's choice.

In cases with unruptured membranes, induction will be carried out for various medical and obstetric indications (post-term, oligohydramnios, etc.) after cervical ripening with catheter balloon if needed.

In cases of ruptured membranes, labor will be induced if it did not ensue spontaneously within 24 hours of spontaneous rupture of membranes.

Spontaneous onset of labor is defined as the presence of at least 6 spontaneous contractions per hour on tocodynamometry with either spontaneous rupture of membranes, or intact membranes with at least 3 cm of cervical dilation or 80% cervical effacement.

In addition, the following data will be collected: gravida age, ethnicity, gestational age at admission and birth, indication for induction, reason for birth by cesarean section, background diseases, and diseases complicating pregnancy.

Statistical analysis A sample size of 100 patients in each group was calculated using data from research by Mashini et al. (1987), which published time from augmentation to delivery and uterine activity measured in Montevideo units after induction by nipple stimulation vs. oxytocin infusion [15].

Power analysis was calculated in order to compare time from augmentation to delivery between breast stimulation vs. low-dose oxytocin augmentation.

A difference of at least 2 units between the groups (for example, 9.5±4.3 vs. 7.5±2.6, respectively) is anticipated.

Based on independent t-test 2-side hypothesis testing with alpha=5% and 70 women in each group, the power is 91%.