TERMINOLOGY IN

OBSTETRICS AND PARTURITION

STAGES AND PROCESS

NITIN KUMAR BAJAJ

College of Vety. Sci. & A. H.,
 STAGES OF PARTURITION
 Three Stages
 First stage of labour
Changes are not visible externally
Characterstic- Onset of regular myometrial contractions,
producing signs of discomfort and mild colic
Restlessness with elevated pulse and respiratory rates;
body temperature fall by 1 degree
Prepare the birth canal & fetus for expulsion
Structure of the cervix changes so that it can dilate;
Fetus assumes the disposition for expulsion (Rotation
about its LA & extension of extremities)
Changes in structure of Cervix: Changes in composition of
collagen components, Collagen fibres separate from each)
 STAGES OF PARTURITION
 First stage of labour

 Cervix dilates, with external os opening before internal ,

(time taken varies)

 Cow- Wide dilatation of external os, perimeter is palpable

as a frill at cranial end of vagina

 Vagina, cervix and uterus form a continuous canal
 STAGES OF PARTURITION
 First stage of labour
 Sheep & goat : 2 months prepartum ut. contractions occur
once every 30–60 minutes (low amplitude, 5–10 min.)
 Last 4 days prepartum frequency and amplitude ↑
 Last 12 - 2 hours, contractions occur at a regular
frequency (30/hr.), of short duration (1 min.) and
substantial amplitude (20–25 mmHg)
 Cow: Myometrial contrac. change from uncoordinated
waves in late pregnancy to a regular coordinated
peristaltic type at expulsion of calf, freq. also ↑ from 12 to
24 / hr. in last 2 hours, and 48/ hr. just before expulsion
 STAGES OF PARTURITION
 First stage of labour
 Sow:
Presence of cervicotubular and tubular–cervical
contractions
 Foal and puppy-
Progressive rotation from ventral to dorsal position,
forelimbs, head and neck become extended
 Calf and lamb-
Extension to change the fetus from its gestational posture
to parturition
 Bovine-
Flexed knees of the calf first occupies dilating cervix
Fetus extends carpal joints in efforts to ‘stand up in utero’
 STAGES OF PARTURITION
 Second stage of labour
 Monotocous species- Expulsion of the fetus;
 Polytocous species- Fetal membranes are voided together
with fetuses (cannot be separated from the 3rd stage)
 Sign- Abdominal contractions superimposed upon each
myometrial contraction
 Cow- Disappearance of cervicotubular waves contractions
 Straining forces fetus against cervix and ant. vagina,
initiates Ferguson’s reflex, oxytocin released causes
further contractions of myometrium
 STAGES OF PARTURITION
 Second stage of labour
 Allantochorionic sac (1st water Bag) ruptures, gush of
urine like fluid escapes from vulva
 Distended amnion is forced into pelvic inlet, stimulating
pelvic reflex, which induces powerful contractions of
abdominal muscle
 Amnion appears at vulva as ‘ 2nd water-bag’
 Further straining- Fetal limbs appear in water-bag;
Monotocous species one limb slightly precedes other
 Amnion expelled, may or may not become ruptured by
fetal foot, with escape of some of lubricant amniotic fluid
 STAGES OF PARTURITION
 Second stage of labour

 Fetal head next occupies vulva, ut. And abdal.

Contractions reach climax of expulsive effort
 Head born, mother rest for a while but soon a further bout

of straining causes fetal thorax to pass through vulva

 STAGES OF PARTURITION
 Second stage of labour

 When mother gives birth in lateral recumbency offspring

is often born with an intact umbilical cord

 Physiological birth the fetus does not come in direct

contact with the genital tract

 STAGES OF PARTURITION
 Second stage of labour
 2nd stage is complete when all fetuses have been
delivered; 17 minutes in mare, 4 hours in sow
 Duration and degree of effort associated with it are
usually greater in primigravida than in multigravida
 Mare, cow and ewe (when monotocous) fetus is usually
delivered in anterior presentation, dorsal position and
extended posture fewer times in posterior presentation,
dorsal position and extended posture
 Polytocous bitch and sow up to 40–45% of fetuses may be
normally delivered in posterior presentation
 STAGES OF PARTURITION
 Third stage of labour
 Regular abdominal contractions cease after birth of young
one, myometrial contractions persist (↓amplitude, more
frequent and less regular)
 Cow and Sow- Waves of contractions passing from uterine
tube to cervix persist, but reappearance of contractions in
the reverse direction within 10 minutes of the expulsion
of the calf
 Exsanguination of the placenta is aided by squeezing
effect of myometrial contractions
 Ewe and cow separation of fetal membrane
 Polytocous species- Dehiscence and expulsion of fetal
membranes are interspersed with fetal births
 STAGES OF PARTURITION
 Third stage of labour
 Monotocous Species- Expulsion of last afterbirth simulates
third stage
 Third stage lasts from an average of 1 hour in mare to 6
hours in cow
 Except mare, domestic animals normally eat afterbirth
 Except sow, females of other domestic species indulge in
intensive licking of newborn offspring
 Suckling exerts a favourable influence on expulsion of
afterbirth
 Mare- Contractions of uterine musculature in 3rd stage
causes abdominal pain, and it is quite common for
expulsion of membranes to be preceded by mild
symptoms of colic
 ACCELERATING PARTURITION
 Oxytocin – Late or delayed furrowing in sows
when fetus is in birth canal, uterine inertia, 1-2 IU
repeatedly (upto 10 IU, >10 IU causes uterine
spasm)
Carazolol- Sows (beta-blocking agent), Beta
receptors dominate which result in stress, release
of adrenaline (epinephrine), uterine relaxation.
Beta blocker prevents action of adrenaline on
myometrium. (dose 0.5 mg/50 kg body wt.)
 DELAYING PARTURITION
 Beta-adrenergic agents: β adrenergic agents
stimulate β 2 receptors of uterine muscle cells
and abolish uterine contractions and delay
parturition for a short time.
Clenbuterol- cow, sow and ewe
Cattle- cervix not fully dilated , 2nd stage not
started, 1st inj. 0.3 mg Clenbuterol HCL (10ml)
followed by 0.21 mg (7ml) 4 hours later inhibit
calving by 8 hrs after second Inj.
Myometrial contractions inhibited without
adverse effect on fetus. Oxytocin reverses its
effect