Factors influencing maternal perception of uterine contractions.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess factors associated with perception of uterine contractions.


METHODS
A database of ambulatory uterine activity monitoring was examined. All patients having singleton pregnancies evaluated between March 1997 and March 2002 were eligible for analysis. Data were divided into 4 groups by maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI): lean (<20 kg/m(2)), normal (>or=20 to <25 kg/m(2)), overweight (>or=25 to <30 kg/m(2)), and obese (>or=30 kg/m(2)). The percentage of contractions perceived during observation was compared between groups. Variables interrogated included maternal weight and parity. Statistical analysis included t test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and linear regression.


RESULTS
Data from 7808 patients (556,382 hr) were analyzed. A significant reduction in perception of contractions occurred with increasing BMI between each classification, P <.001. A significant reduction in perception of contractions was also noted between nulliparous and multiparous patients at each weight classification, P <.001.


CONCLUSIONS
Obese, nulliparous patients have the greatest difficulty perceiving contractions. Such data may help explain unattended birth or late presentation for care in this group.
Cottrill
Hope M
HM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Kentucky, Central Baptist Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Barton
John R
JR
O'brien
John M
JM
Rhea
Debbie L
DL
Milligan
Douglas A
DA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008423:Maternal Age; D010298:Parity; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013851:Thinness; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018590:Uterine Monitoring / Q000379:methods*