[Uterine activity in late pregnancy (author's transl)]

In late pregnancy three different dinks of uterine activity can be observed by external tocography: Alvarez-waves, Braxton-Hicks-contractions and phases of inactivity equivalent to the intervals of labour. Contractions and phases of inactivity increases on to delivery, while the portion of Alvarez-waves decreases. Braxton-Hicks-contractions and phases of inactivity are opposed to the uncoordinated Alvarex-waves as coordinated activity. Accordingly these changes are explained as a process of increasing coordination of uterine activity, which finally ends in delivery.