A uterine electromyographic activity as a measure of labour progression

Abstract

Background:The purpose of this study was the possibility to follow the progress of labour using electromyographic (EMG) signals obtained from the uterine corpus and the cervix. Methods: 28 healty primiparous women with induced labour at an age from 19 to 29 years were enrolled in the study. For interpretation of EMG signals Sample entropy (SampEn), the measure of time series regularity was used. SampEn values were related to the progress of labour recorded in the partogram. h e main outcome is association between labour progress and values of SampEn. Results: Approaching the childbirth during normally progressing labour, regular activity of uterine corpus muscles and cervical muscles is indicated as a decreasing trend in values of SampEn. A delay in the active phase of labour due to active contractions of cervical circular muscles is indicated in greater values of SampEn calculated from cervical EMG activity. Conclusions: By measuring and processing of EMG signals from the uterine corpus and the cervix an obstetrician can obtain an additional useful information on the progress of labour.