RT Book, Section
A1 Cunningham, F. Gary
A1 Leveno, Kenneth J.
A1 Dashe, Jodi S.
A1 Hoffman, Barbara L.
A1 Spong, Catherine Y.
A1 Casey, Brian M.
SR Print(0)
ID 1197681475
T1 Physiology of Labor
T2 Williams Obstetrics, 26e
YR 2022
FD 2022
PB McGraw Hill
PP New York, NY
SN 9781260462739
LK obgyn.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1197681475
RD 2024/10/10
AB Labor  is  characterized  by  forceful  and  painful  uterine  contractions  that  effect  cervical  dilation  and  cause  the  fetus  to  descend  through  the  birth  canal.  However,  extensive  preparations  take  place  in  both  the  uterus  and  cervix  long  before  this.  During  the  first  36  to  38  weeks  of  normal  gestation,  the  myometrium  is  in  a  preparatory  yet  unresponsive  state.  Concurrently,  the  cervix  begins  an  early  stage  of  remodeling  yet  maintains  structural  integrity.  Following  uterine  quiescence,  a  transitional  phase  begins  during  which  myometrial  unresponsiveness  is  suspended  and  the  cervix  undergoes  ripening,  effacement,  and  loss  of  structural  cohesion.