2-25&26-16-Physiology Of Pregnancy, PARTURITION And LACTATION (Lopez)-Covers Slide 49-82 Flashcards
___ is a series of regular, rhythmic, and forceful contractions that develops to facilitate thinning and dilation of the cervix
Obstetric definition of labor
-Contractions may last for several hours, a day, or even longer and may eventually result in expulsion of the fetus, placenta, and membranes
This stage of labor is defined by uterine tranquility and refractoriness to contraction
0
This stage of labor is defined by uterine awakening, initiation of parturition, extending to complete cervical dilatation
1
-Increase in the number of gap junctions between myometrial cells; increase in number of oxytocin receptors
This stage of labor is defined by active labor, from complete cervical dilatation to delivery of the newborn
2
This stage of labor is defined by “from delivery of the fetus to expulsion of the placenta and final uterine contraction
3
THere are signals from the placenta and fetus that may initiate labor:
The placenta produces ____ and maternal serum levels of this hormone increase rapidly during late pregnancy and labor
CRH
As placental CRH accumulates in the fetal circulation during labor, it stimulates fetal ___ secretion, which stimulates both fetal adrenal cortisol and fetoplacental estrogen production
ACTH
In contrast to the inhibitory effect of cortisol on hypothalamic CRH production, ___ stimulates placental CRH production (self-amplifying positive feedback loop)
Cortisol
__ promotes contractions by sensitizing the uterus to prostaglandins and oxytocin. Estrogen also stimulates contractions
CRH
Toward the end of pregnancy, the uterus becomes progressively more ___, until finally it develops such strong rhythmical contractions that the baby is expelled
These 2 major categories of effects lead up to the intense contractions:
Excitable
Progressive hormone changes and Progressive mechanical changes
___ hormones increases the degree of uterine contractility. From the 7th month, secretion of this hormone continues to increase while progesterone remains constant. It also stimulates synthesis of oxytocin receptors
Estrogen
___ are believed to initiate labor. It synthesis is stimulated by estrogen from arachidonic acid in fetal membrane and by oxytocin in uterine cells. The amount of this compound increases during parturition and plays a role in enhancing motility/contraction of uterine smooth muscle cells
Prostaglandins
These prostaglandins increase uterine motility and large doses of these can be used to induce labor
PGF2alpha and PGE2
Levels of PG’s increase in uterus, placenta, amniotic fluid, fetal membranes before onset of labor
Uterine stretch stimulates uterine PG production
Estrogen increases the number of ___ receptors in the myometrial and decidual tissue of pregnant women.
Oxytocin
The uterus remains insensitive to oxytocin until about __ weeks of gestation, at which time the number of oxytocin receptors increases to 80x higher than baseline values by about ___ weeks of gestation, it will plateau just before labor, then rise again to 200x during early labor
20
36
The uterus is sensitive to ___ only at the end of pregnancy, whereas it is susceptible to __ throughout pregnancy
Oxytocin
PG’s
When oxytocin is released in response to cervical stretch, it is known as the ___ reflex
Ferguson–> stimulates uterine contractions, thereby facilitating labor
While oxytocin and PG’s play an important role in stimulating uterine contractions, only ___ are believed to have a key role in the initiation of labor
PGs
Once labor is initiated (stage 1), maternal oxytcin is released in bursts and the frequency of these bursts increases as labor progresses
Oxytocin binds receptors on decidual cells, thereby stimulating ___ production
PGF2alpha
During 2nd stage of labor, oxytocin release may play a synergistic role in the expulsion of the fetus by virtue of its ability to stimulate PG release
___ causes the uterus to contract immediately after the fetus is expelled, limiting blood flow and blood loss
Oxytocin
During 3rd stage of labor, uterine contractions induced by oxytocin are important for constricting uterine blood vessels at the site where the placenta used to be, thus promoting blood coagulation
___ is a protein produced by the corpus luteum, placenta, and decidua that keeps the uterus quiescent during pregnancy. Production and release of this hormone factor increases during labor and may soften and dilate cervix during labor
Relaxin
The fetal ___ secretes increasing quantities of oxytocin, which might play a role in exciting the uterus
The fetal ___ secretes large quantities of cortisol, which could also be a uterine stimulant
The fetal ___ release PG’s in high concentration at the time of labor and increases the intensity of uterine contractions
Pituitary
Adrenals
Placental membranes
When are twins typically born compared to a single child?
Twins are born, on average, 19 days earlier than a single child, which emphasizes the importance of mechanical stretch in starting uterine contraction
Most of the pregnancy, the uterus undergoes periodic episodes of weak and slow rhythmic contractions called ___ which become exceptionally strong during the last hours of the pregnancy
Braxton-hicks contractions
When contractions start stretching the cervix and later force the baby through the birth canal, these are called ___ contractions
Labor
Labor contractions are thought to be mediated by a ___ mechanism
Positive feedback –> stretching of the cervix by the fetal head increases the contractility of the uterus; more stretch=more contractions
When the fetus drops lower in the uterus, it causes cervical stretch. Cervical stretch will cause __ release from the posterior pituitary which stimulates uterine contractions. Uterine contractions will also stimulate ___ release, which itself increases the intensity of uterine contractions.
Oxytocin
PG
When increased uterine activity stretches the cervix, oxytocin is released through the __ reflex
Ferguson
___ is the process by which the cervix prepares for delivery. After the baby has engaged in the pelvis, it gradually drops closer to the cervix; the cervix will gradually soften, shorten, and become thinner (cervical thinning)
Effacement