A VALIDATION-STUDY OF HOME UTERINE ACTIVITY MONITORING TECHNOLOGY IN WESTERN-AUSTRALIA

Home uterine activity monitoring has been developed as an 'early warni ng' device to detect premature uterine activity, thereby encouraging e arlier referral and tocolysis of women at risk of preterm delivery. Th is ambulatory monitoring system, utilizing a ring-guard tocodynamomete r, was piloted in Western Australia to determine if it can reliably re cord and transmit antenatal uterine activity data in an Australian env ironment, Pregnant women were readily able to correctly apply and use the ambulatory monitoring device. The information collected was able t o be transmitted using standard Australian telecommunications systems within our hospital environment. Validation studies with the ambulator y monitor and current external tocodynamometry hardware were performed . The ring-guard tocodynamometer detected more uterine activity at ges tations less than 32 weeks compared with conventional external tocodyn amometers. As term approached, however, the sensitivity of the ring-gu ard tocodynamometer decreased. A cross-sectional profile of antenatal uterine activity was developed for women at low risk of delivering pre term. A gradual increase in the number, duration and amplitude of uter ine contractions as pregnancy advanced was observed.