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An analysis of uterine activity in spontaneous labour using a microcomputer
Author(s) -
FAIRLIE F. M.,
PHILLIPS G. F.,
ANDREWS B. J.,
CALDER A. A.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1988.tb06480.x
Subject(s) - stage (stratigraphy) , uterine contraction , medicine , contraction (grammar) , parity (physics) , obstetrics , gynecology , anesthesia , uterus , biology , physics , paleontology , particle physics
Summary. A microcomputer was used to analyse uterine activity during spontaneous labour in 30 nulliparous and 30 parous patients. The intrauterine mean active pressure (MAP) in the nulliparous group was 1·51 kPa (SD 0·45) in the first stage and 2·71 kPa (SD 0·77) in the second stage. For the parous group, the MAP in the first stage was 1·22 kPa (SD 0·37) and in the second stage was 2·92 kPa (SD 0·98). A significant parity difference in MAP and contraction frequency was observed in the first stage but not in the second stage. Epidural analgesia did not appear to influence uterine activity in the first stage but was associated with a lower MAP, contraction frequency and intensity in the second stage. During the first stage, MAP increased by 21% in nulliparas and by 39% in multiparas. The rise in MAP was mainly due to an increase in contraction frequency.