Head‐to‐cervix force: an important physiological variable in labour. 1. The temporal relation between head‐to‐cervix force and intrauterine pressure during labour

Abstract

This is the first report of the temporal relation between intrauterine pressure and head-to-cervix force in labour. The most common pattern is that the rise in pressure lags the rise in force, suggesting that a seal has to be created between the fetal head and cervix before a rise in pressure can occur. When oxytocin is given in labour, a higher proportion of loops are negative indicating that there is poor application of the fetal head and cervix in a greater proportion of contractions.