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Definition of the first stage of labour...
Effacement and dilatation of the cervix aided by regular uterine contractions (Coad and Dunstall 2011).
Latent phase of labour...
Contractions commence and become polarised with cervical changes such as shortening, effacement and dilatation (Greulich and Tarrant 2007).
Active phase of labour...
Strong regular contractions present with cervix dilating from four centimetres to ten centimetres (Edwards 2014).
Effacement...
Internal OS of the cervix softens and merges with lower segment whilst external OS remains unchanged (Cunningham et al 2010). Effacement takes place before dilatation in primigravid women (Howie and Rankin 2010).
Dilatation...
OS of the cervix enlarges from being tight to a larger outlet for fetus to pass through (Walsh 2010). Becomes dilated from contractions and pressure from fetus (Howie and Rankin 2010).
Fundal dominance...
Uterine contractions start and are stronger at the fundus (Wylie 2005).
Polarity...
Coordination between the upper and lower segments of the uterus. Upper contracts whilst lower contracts and dilated (Bernal and Norwitz 2012).
Contraction and retraction...
Retraction is when a contraction does not completely relax but lowers in intensity as there are still some shortening of the muscle fibres (Marshall and Raynor 2014).
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