RESUMEN
To investigate the use of the oral misoprostol" prostaglandin E1 analogue" in the prevention of post partum haemorrhage. One hundred women undergoing vaginal delivery divided into two graups: [1] Study group: were given 600 ug misoprostol orally at the end of the second stage of labour. [2] Control group: Were given a combination of 5 units oxytocin and 0.5 mg ergometrine intra musculary at the end of the second stage of labour. Post partum haemorrhage occurred in 6% of the women, the need for therapeutic oxytocics in 6%, retained placenta in 2% and the median length of third stage was 5 minutes. Vomiting and diarrhoea in the first hour after delivery occurred in 8% and 4% repectively and shivering in 48% all were self limited. So misoprostol may be effective in the prevention of post partum haemorrhage and has few toleratd side effect