CORRELATION OF TOTAL UTERINE ACTIVITY TO BLOOD-LOSS IN THE 3RD STAGE OF LABOR

In 27 women, uterine activity in the third stage of labour was correla ted with blood loss measured quantitatively during the same period of time. Myometrial activity was reflected by total intrauterine pressure s measured using a Gaeltec(R) catheter tipped pressure transducer inse rted transcervically within 5 min of delivery of the placenta. Blood l oss over the same 2-hour period was collected on absorbent paper and m easured in the laboratory by colorimetric measurement of the haemoglob in content. As total uterine activity in the third stage of labour dec reases total blood loss increases, but there is a poor correlation of uterine activity to total blood loss over the same period of time, pro bably because of biological variations in myometrial activity in norma l women.