Normal levels of uterine activity in primigravidae and women of high parity in spontaneous labour

SummaryUterine activity was measured in 30 primigravidae and 30 women of parity 5 or more. All were in the active phase of the first stage of spontaneous labour and were delivered spontaneously vaginally—without augmentation with oxytocin. The cumulative uterine activity integral values and the values at individual cervical dilatations were significantly lower with parity 5 or more than in primigravidae. The overall values (mean ± s.d.) of the integral were 1574 ± 468 KPa/15 min and 1139 ± 442KPa/15 min for primigravidae and high parity women respectively. A gradual rise in uterine activity as labour advanced from 3–10 cm cervical dilatation was observed.