Contraction Stress Test

Oxytocin Challenge Test

Risks

Fetal heart monitoring may indicate your baby is having problems when your baby is actually healthy. Fetal heart monitoring cannot detect every type of problem, such as a birth defect.

The risks from having oxytocin include:

• Causing labor to start earlier than your expected delivery date.
• Causing prolonged contractions that may cause problems with your baby. The contractions usually stop when the oxytocin is stopped. You may be given a medicine to stop the contractions. If in the very rare case that your contractions do not stop, your doctor may recommend delivery.

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: February 22, 2008
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Liisa Honey, MD, FRCSC - Obstetrics and Gynecology
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