Electrical Activity of Uterus as Reliable Information on Contractions During Pregnancy and Labour

In this paper an evaluation of analysis of uterine electrical signals as an alternative method to tocography for contractile activity monitoring is presented. A set of dedicated indices was defined to estimate the inconsistency of the number, location and other descriptive parameters of the corresponding contractions detected in simultaneously recorded mechanical and electrical activity signals. Research material comprised 57 recordings from three groups of pregnant women being: in the first uncomplicated pregnancy, with symptoms of the threatening preterm labour, and during the first period of the physiological labour. The highest consistency as for the number and location of contractions was noted for recordings acquired during labour. Obtained results show synchronization between the mechanical and electrical activity, which varies in different stages of pregnancy and labour, and which is stronger when the birth term approaches.