Association Between Fluid Administration, Oxytocin Administration, and Fetal Heart Rate Changes

Fetal heart rate patterns are an important parameter in the diagnosis of non-reassuring fetal status. Combined-spinal epidural analgesia is a method of initiating labor analgesia used by approximately 90% of the parturients at Prentice Women's Hospital. Optimizing the variables which could affect fetal heart rate patterns at the time of initiation of analgesia, such as fluid administration and oxytocin management, could help us provide better care for our patients and their fetuses. Hypotheses: Patients who receive a 1000 mL fluid bolus and lower rates of oxytocin administration will have fewer non-reassuring fetal heart rate (FHR) changes.