[Human uterine contractility during normal puerperium (author's transl)]

In order to determine the morphology and the normal values of uterine contractility during the puerperium, 26 patients with the following characteristics were studied: multiparous during puerperium, without recent episiotomy, with healthy cervix, absence of genital septic focus, uterine tumours or malformations; all of them breast feeding. In the hypothesis it was considered that the endogenous oxytocin increases and stimulates the mammary myoepithelium and uterine contractility. For recording uterine contractility, the technique of Jaumandreu and Hendricks was used. The recordings were made during the 24 hours postpartum, at 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 days with a duration of 2 to 3 hours. All the studies were longitudinal. The change of human uterine contractility during normal puerperium were estimated. The range of the tonus was 22--41 mmHg, the intensity 5--18 mmHg, the frequency 17--23 contractions in 10 minutes, and the uterine activity 102--223 Montevideo Units.