Uterine Activity in Oxytocin Induced Labour

Uterine activity measured by quantifying active contraction area in induced labour showed an initial significant steep increase (incremental phase) followed by a stable phase when the uterine activity was about 1750 k Pas/15 min in nulliparae and multi-parae with poor cervical score; it was 1500 k Pas/15 min in multiparae with good cervical score. Once this was achieved, further increase in oxytocin dosage did not increase uterine activity but instead revealed a tendency to hypertonic uterine contractions. A marked rise in uterine activity was observed in the late first stage of labour (terminal phase) despite no increase in oxytocin in patients with good cervical scores (>6) at induction but not in those with poor cervical scores (