Lecture 15: Normal Birth Flashcards
Define labour and the three stages
Uterine activity and cervical change which leads to expulsion of the fetus and placenta
S1: until full dilatation (10cm)
Has Latent phase ->24 hrs and Active phase ->cm an hour
S2: full dilatation until birth of baby- more descent of the baby down the ischial spine.
S3: birth of baby until delivery of placenta
What is 2 main functions of the uterus
- Be relaxed and quiescent but also have massive growth to support bb
- Initiate labour in line with fetal development which is highly coordinated, forceful activity, with sufficient relaxation for oxygenation but also keep sustained tension on cervix involution
What are the 3 layers of the myometrium and what is important about it
- Outer longitudinal
- Middle mesh like fibres- interwoven to allow force to be given in lots of directions
- Inner circular
Bulk of muscle is at the fundus to allow contraction to push down
What are the factors that promote and inhibit SM contraction of the myometrium due to Ca2+ uptake and release from intracellular storage
Promote: Oxytocin and Prostaglandins
Inhibit: Progesterone, cAMP, B-adrenergic agent
How is the tone/contractions of myometrium regulated and in what degree
Myometrium is spontaneously active even when relaxed but increases in frequency, amplitude and duration by cell surface receptors
–>endocrine, paracrine, autocrine factors.
The coordination of the contractions themselves is helped by Gap junctions
What are the 2 functions of the cervix
Keeps bb from falling out due to gravity and stops infections from getting inside. It undergoes softening in pregnancy in preparation for dilatation
Where is P2, E2, Oxytocin and Prostaglandins (PG) produced during pregnancy important for birth and what is its effect on the Uterus muscle
P2: Corpus Luteum (early), Placenta.
=Relaxant
E2: Placenta from fetal adrenal precursor DHEAS
= Uterotonic
Oxytocin: Hypothalamic production released from posterior pituitary
= Uterotonic
Prostaglandins: Decidua, placenta, membranes, neutrophils
= Uterotonic (PgE2, F2 alpha) and
= Relaxant (PgI2)
What are the 4 Physiological Phases for preparation of birth
Quiescence, Activation,
Stimulation and
Involution
What happens in Quiescence
Everything is relaxed; uterus is growing in capacity
- first wks: Myocyte hyperplasia, then stretch induced hypertrophy
- Pelvic Ligamentous laxity
- Cervix softens but remains firm and closed
- Myocyte contractions weak and uncoordinated
What happens in Activation
- Last 6-8 weeks of pregnancy
Undergoing cellular changes to prime for labour
- Lower segment forming
- myocytes becoming more excitable and contractions coordinated
What happens in Stimulation
- (280 days from LMP) 37-42 wks
A release from the inhibition on myometrial contraction
- Cervix is very soft now. It shortens and effaces,
- membranes rupture- release more Pg
- coordinated uterine activity
What happens in Involution
Period of retraction and remodelling of the uterus
- Placental separation
- Cleaving of decidua basalis
- Contractions to prevent PPH- increased sensitivity to oxytocin
- Later returns women to non pregnant state
What are the cell signalling factors that contribute to Quiescence
Mainly Progesterone (also PgI2, relaxin, pthrp, NO)
Causing:
- increased degradation of uterotonins, increased B-adrenergic receptors
- decreased intracellular Ca2+, Gap junctions, PG production
What are the cell signalling factors that contribute to Activation
- Increase in Contraction associated proteins (CAPS) - eg PG and oxytocin receptors
which leads to
- increased excitability, actin-myosin interaction and cross talk between myocytes - Upregulation of Connexin 43- gap junction which allow AP to propagate through myometrium.
- Estrogen
How come contractions can happen when Progesterone maternal, amniotic and fetus concentration elevates at birth/parturition
Functional progesterone withdrawal: Maybe
- change in isoform
- local inactivation of p2 by steroid metabolising enzyme
- altered expression of co-activator/repressors at the receptor
- post translational modification of P2 receptor