Intrauterine-pressure studies in African nulliparae: normal labour progress.
Uterine activity was measured in 29 nulliparous African women, who were in the active phase of spontaneous labour, and who were delivered vaginally without supplementary oxytocin. A fluid-filled intrauterine catheter, an external strain gauge and a pressure-curve integrator were used to quantitate uterine activity. The rate of dilatation of the cervix from entry to the study to full dilatation of the cervix was greater than 1 cm/h; this constituted normal labour progress. In nulliparous African women the minimum level of uterine activity likely to be associated with a cervical dilatation rate of 1 cm/h was 1200 kPas/15 min and the median uterine activity level in the active phase of normal labour was 1824 kPas/15 min.
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D044383:Black People; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D013019:South Africa; D014590:Uterine Contraction