A Comparative Study of Uterine Activity in Labour Induced with Prostaglandin F2α Or Oxytocin and in Spontaneous Labour

Abstract. The uterine contraction patterns and the changes in fetal heart rate (FHR) were studied in cardio‐tocographic recordings from 26 women in oxytocin‐induced labour, 26 women in PGF2α‐induced labour and 24 women during the later part of spontaneous labour. the contraction patterns and their effect on the FHR did not differ between the three groups. During the course of labour an increasing steepness of the upward slope of the contraction wave with increasing intensity of the contraction was found. High frequency of atypical contraction patterns, suggesting some degree of uterine incoordination was found during the active phase of labour in 10 patients, 8 of whom were primiparae. This incoordination could not be related to the effect of induction with either drug. Incoordinated contractions were associated with longer duration of labour and a tendency to more pronounced acidosis in the infant at birth, although mean values still fell in the normal range. Ominous FHR patterns were only seen in 2 cases of uterine hyperactivity during induction of labour.

[1]  R. Caldeyro-barcia,et al.  Effect of position changes on the intensity and frequency of uterine contractions during labor , 1960 .

[2]  J. Hill,et al.  Maternal placental and myometrial blood flow of the rhesus monkey during uterine contractions. , 1971, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[3]  Richard Wohlgemuth,et al.  The electronic evaluation of fetal heart rate , 1960 .

[4]  H. W. Erving,et al.  Elective induction of labor. , 1952, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[5]  R. Caldeyro-barcia,et al.  OXYTOCIN AND CONTRACTILITY OF THE PREGNANT HUMAN UTERUS * , 1959, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

[6]  G. N. Sheikh,et al.  THE DURATION OF INDUCED LABOUR , 1970, The Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology of the British Commonwealth.

[7]  Friedman Ea,et al.  Station of the fetal presenting part , 1965 .

[8]  L. Mann,et al.  The Effect of Head Compression on FHR, Brain Metabolism and Function , 1972, Obstetrics and Gynecology.

[9]  M. Helfferich,et al.  The effects on the fetus of an abnormal contraction pattern in the induction of labor with oxytocin. , 1972, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[10]  Quantitative study of the regularity of uterine contractile rhythm in labor. , 1969, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[11]  D O Thorne,et al.  The relationship of the maximum amplitude and the maximum and minimum slope of the intrauterine pressure waveform in late pregnancy and labor. , 1972, IEEE transactions on bio-medical engineering.

[12]  A. Turnbull,et al.  UTERINE CONTRACTIONS IN NORMAL AND ABNORMAL LABOUR , 1957, The Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology of the British Empire.

[13]  G. Anderson.  Induction of term labor with intravenous PGF2α: A review , 1973 .

[14]  E. Hon,et al.  The electronic evaluation of fetal heart rate. 3. The effect of an oxytocic agent used for the induction of labor. , 1960, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

[15]  F. C. Greiss.  Effect of labor on uterine blood flow , 1965 .

[16]  U. Borell,et al.  EFFECT OF UTERINE CONTRACTIONS ON THE HUMAN UTEROPLACENTAL BLOOD CIRCULATION: AN ARTERIOGRAPHIC STUDY. , 1964, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[17]  E H BISHOP,et al.  Pelvic Scoring for Elective Induction , 1964, Obstetrics and gynecology.

[18]  V. Brotánek,et al.  Changes in uterine blood flow during uterine contractions. , 1969, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[19]  L. Lindgren.  The influence of uterine motility upon cervical dilatation in labor. , 1973, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[20]  J. M. Slemons.  The Induction of Labor at Term , 1932 .

[21]  R. Sokol,et al.  Abnormal Contraction Patterns in Patients Monitored During Labor , 1973, Obstetrics and gynecology.

[22]  W. C. Keettel,et al.  The hazards of elective induction of labor. , 1958, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[23]  T. Eskes,et al.  Uterine contractility at delivery and in the puerperium. , 1962, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[24]  R. Schwarcz,et al.  Fetal and meternal monitoring in spontaneous labors and in elective inductions , 1974 .

[25]  J. J. Poseiro,et al.  EFFECTS OF ABNORMAL UTERINE CONTRACTIONS ON A HUMAN FETUS. , 1963, Bibliotheca paediatrica.

[26]  R. Caldeyro-barcia,et al.  [The normal and abnormal contractile waves of the uterus during labour]. , 1954, Gynaecologia. International monthly review of obstetrics and gynecology. Revue internationale mensuelle d'obstetrique et de gynecologie. Monatsschrift fur Geburtshilfe und Gynakologie.

[27]  E. A. Friedman.  Labor: Clinical evaluation and management , 1978 .

[28]  H. Hutchinson,et al.  Fetal response to induction, augmentation, and correction of labor by oxytocin. , 1963, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.