Looking for Labour Pains
 

Leibniz Universität Hannover Is Doing Research into the Reliable Prediction of the Time of Birth

If it were possible to predict the time of birth reliably, women in an advanced stage of pregnancy would be able to remain in their familiar surroundings until shortly before the birth. This would not only reduce prenatal stress, but also the associated latent feeling of insecurity.

Tocometry (CTG), used in obstetrics until now, does not differentiate between training or birth pains of pregnant women and is employed only immediately before and during the birth. The reliable analysis of the training pains which, weeks beforehand, prepare the uterus for the birth is therefore not possible.

Researchers of Leibniz Universität Hannover are now working on a new method to be able to distinguish reliably between training and birth pains. The diagnosis of premature births or problematic births would also be possible with the new method.

In an interdisciplinary research project Dipl.-Ing. Lars Reicke from the Institute of Dynamics and Vibrations of Leibniz Universität Hannover and Dr.med. Holger Maul, Deputy Medical Director of Obstetrics in the University Clinic Heidelberg, are currently testing the application of electromiography (EMG) in obstetrics. EMG is an established procedure in medical technology which measures the electrical tension when a muscle is activated. Until now diseases of the nervous system and muscular pains have been examined with this method.

The new research approach transfers electromiography to obstetrics: the electric signals of the contracting uterus are recorded by two surface electrodes on the stomach of the pregnant woman with the use of special software. This is completely free of pain for the pregnant woman. Subsequently, the researchers extract and analyse the marked individual impulses from the measured rough signals. They then try to identify and compare the characteristic features of the training and birth pains. The goal is to develop an apparatus which, similarly to the cardio-tocograph, measures the muscle activities of the uterus and, in addition, can differentiate reliably between training and birth pains.

The project has been in the pre-clinical phase for about 18 months. More than 300 pregnant women have already been included in the study. In the meantime the researchers have been able to show that it can be possible by means of EMG measurements to make a statement about the time of birth. During the current year the scientists will apply for research funding in order to be able to intensify and make further progress in the work on the project.

Meldung vom 07.05.2007