Drugs and uterine motility.

ABSTRACT

Nurses who care for pregnant and laboring women are faced with an increasingly frequent use of pharmaceutical agents that facilitate initiation of labor (uterotropins), augment labor (uterotonics), or potentially stop labor (tocolytics). The choice of the drug, administration, side effects, and complications varies. Knowledge about uterine physiology helps the clinician understand the action of these agents. Knowledge of the differences and similarities among oxytoxics, ergots, prostaglandins, and the various drugs used as tocolytics is essential for safe and effective care of women and their fetuses who may be exposed to these agents.