Intrauterine monitoring of contractions during breast stimulation.
Thirty-six patients with ruptured membranes and absent or infrequent uterine contractions underwent breast stimulation. The intensity and frequency of contractions were measured by an intrauterine pressure catheter. Unilateral breast stimulation produced uterine contractions with an average intensity of 48 mmHg and frequency of 3.6 minutes. In patients with previously infrequent contractions, unilateral breast stimulation significantly increased the frequency of contractions without changing the intensity. During breast stimulation, half of the patients experienced tachysystole (ie, contractions more frequently than two minutes apart), and five of 36 had prolonged contractions (ie, lasting more than 90 seconds). However, tachysystole and prolonged contractions rarely produced fetal heart rate decelerations.
D001940:Breast / Q000502:physiology*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000503:physiopathology; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014160:Transducers, Pressure; D014590:Uterine Contraction