LABOR

LABOR - contractions that occur at decreasing intervals, increasing in intensity and causes dilatation and effacement of the cervix.

The contractions will differentiate the uterus into 2 parts:the lower and the upper segment.

The pain of labor is brought about by:

-hypoxia or lack of oxygen of the contracted myometrium (the uterine muscle)

-compression of the nerve ganglia in the cervix and the lower uterus by the tightly interlocking muscle bundles

-stretching ofthe uterus

-strEtching of the peritoneum overlying the uterus

True labor occurs at regular intervals, every 2-4 minutes apart, intensity increases and can last 60 minutes.The cervix is effacing and dialting progressiverly and sedation cannot affect the contractions

False labor occurs at irregular intervals, intensity is mild to moderate only from our experience, and the cervix has no changes.Contractions are ceased by sedation

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