Intrauterine responses to nipple stimulation in late pregnancy.
Characteristics of intrauterine activity in response to nipple stimulation were studied in 9 healthy pregnant subjects at term. All patients showed an increase in uterine activity varying from 10 to 730%. In 1 subject, marked uterine hypertonus was noted which resulted in profound fetal bradycardia. This response was transient, lasting 5.5 min, and fetal outcome unaffected. We believe that nipple stimulation is associated with a higher incidence of increased uterine activity in terms of frequency, intensity and basal tone, than has been previously recognized. This uterine hypertonus may affect the fetal heart rate adversely indicating the need to exercise caution when adopting this manoeuvre in late pregnancy, particularly when there is already evidence of fetal compromise.
D000328:Adult; D001940:Breast / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D009558:Nipples / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D014590:Uterine Contraction