Effects of Uterine Contractility on the Fetal Cranium

Perspectives from the Past, Present, and Future
  • Timothy J. Kriewall
  • Gregg K. McPherson
Chapter

Abstract

The obstetrical literature is filled with studies that examine empirical relationships between the strength of uterine contractions and the progress of labor. Furthermore, there are numerous statistical studies that present retrospective relationships between perinatal outcome and intrapartum factors such as length of labor, method of delivery, and fetal heart rates. But relatively little has been written about the direct effects of uterine contractility on the fetus. Indeed, observations have been made to demonstrate that sometimes relationships exist between uterine function and secondary measures of fetal well-being such as fetal heart rate or postpartum fetal skull molding, but the pathophysiology of such fetal responses are usually left to conjecture. This chapter examines the direct effects of uterine contractility on the fetal cranium and attempts to explain how the intrapartum assessment of these effects could help in the safe management of parturition.

Keywords

Cerebral Palsy Occipital Bone Parietal Bone Head Shape Cranial Bone 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Aubrey Milunsky, Emanuel A. Friedman, and Louis Gluck 1981

Authors and Affiliations

  • Timothy J. Kriewall
    • 1
  • Gregg K. McPherson
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women’s HospitalUniversity of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborUSA
  2. 2.Surgical Products Division3M CompanyMinnesotaUSA

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