Forces Involved with Labor and Delivery-A Biomechanical Perspective

doi:10.1007/s10439-020-02718-3

Review

. 2021 Aug;49(8):1819-1835.

doi: 10.1007/s10439-020-02718-3. Epub 2021 Jan 11.

Forces Involved with Labor and Delivery-A Biomechanical Perspective

Michele J Grimm¹

Affiliations

PMID: 33432512
DOI: 10.1007/s10439-020-02718-3

Review

Forces Involved with Labor and Delivery-A Biomechanical Perspective

Michele J Grimm. Ann Biomed Eng. 2021 Aug.

. 2021 Aug;49(8):1819-1835.

doi: 10.1007/s10439-020-02718-3. Epub 2021 Jan 11.

Author

Michele J Grimm¹

Affiliation

¹ Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, 428 S. Shaw Lane, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. mgrimm@msu.edu.

PMID: 33432512
DOI: 10.1007/s10439-020-02718-3

Abstract

Childbirth is a primarily biomechanical process of physiology, and one that engineers have recently begun to address in a broader fashion. Computational models are being developed to address the biomechanical effects of parturition on both maternal and fetal tissues. Experimental research is being conducted to understand how maternal tissues adapt to intrauterine forces near the onset of labor. All of this research requires an understanding of the forces that are developed through maternal efforts-both uterine contractions and semi-voluntary pushing-and that can be applied by the clinician to assist with the delivery. This work reviews the current state of knowledge regarding forces of labor and delivery, with a focus on macro-level biomechanics.

Keywords: Biomechanics; Birth.

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References

1. Ali, U. A., and E. R. Norwitz. Vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery. Rev. Obstet. Gynecol. 2:5–17, 2009.
1. Allen, R. H., and E. D. Gurewitsch. Temporary Erb-Duchenne palsy without shoulder dystocia or traction to the fetal head. Obstet. Gynecol. 105:1210–1212, 2005. - PubMed
1. Allen, R., J. Sorab, and B. Gonik. Risk factors for shoulder dystocia: an engineering study of clinician-applied forces. Obstet. Gynecol. 77:352–355, 1991. - PubMed
1. Allman, A. C. J., E. S. G. Genevier, M. R. Johnson, and P. J. Steer. Head-to-cervix force: an important physiological variable in labour. 2. Peak active force, peak active pressure and mode of delivery. BJOG An. Int. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 103:769–775, 1996.
1. Allman, A. C. J., E. S. G. Genevier, M. R. Johnson, and P. J. Steer. Head-to-cervix force: An important physiological variable in labour. 1. The temporal relation between head-to-cervix force and intrauterine pressure during labour. BJOG An. Int. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 103:763–768, 1996.

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[1] Ali, U. A., and E. R. Norwitz. Vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery. Rev. Obstet. Gynecol. 2:5–17, 2009.

[2] Ali, U. A., and E. R. Norwitz. Vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery. Rev. Obstet. Gynecol. 2:5–17, 2009.

[3] Allen, R. H., and E. D. Gurewitsch. Temporary Erb-Duchenne palsy without shoulder dystocia or traction to the fetal head. Obstet. Gynecol. 105:1210–1212, 2005. - PubMed

[4] Allen, R. H., and E. D. Gurewitsch. Temporary Erb-Duchenne palsy without shoulder dystocia or traction to the fetal head. Obstet. Gynecol. 105:1210–1212, 2005. - PubMed

[5] Allen, R., J. Sorab, and B. Gonik. Risk factors for shoulder dystocia: an engineering study of clinician-applied forces. Obstet. Gynecol. 77:352–355, 1991. - PubMed

[6] Allen, R., J. Sorab, and B. Gonik. Risk factors for shoulder dystocia: an engineering study of clinician-applied forces. Obstet. Gynecol. 77:352–355, 1991. - PubMed

[7] Allman, A. C. J., E. S. G. Genevier, M. R. Johnson, and P. J. Steer. Head-to-cervix force: an important physiological variable in labour. 2. Peak active force, peak active pressure and mode of delivery. BJOG An. Int. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 103:769–775, 1996.

[8] Allman, A. C. J., E. S. G. Genevier, M. R. Johnson, and P. J. Steer. Head-to-cervix force: an important physiological variable in labour. 2. Peak active force, peak active pressure and mode of delivery. BJOG An. Int. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 103:769–775, 1996.

[9] Allman, A. C. J., E. S. G. Genevier, M. R. Johnson, and P. J. Steer. Head-to-cervix force: An important physiological variable in labour. 1. The temporal relation between head-to-cervix force and intrauterine pressure during labour. BJOG An. Int. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 103:763–768, 1996.

[10] Allman, A. C. J., E. S. G. Genevier, M. R. Johnson, and P. J. Steer. Head-to-cervix force: An important physiological variable in labour. 1. The temporal relation between head-to-cervix force and intrauterine pressure during labour. BJOG An. Int. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 103:763–768, 1996.

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Forces Involved with Labor and Delivery-A Biomechanical Perspective

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Forces Involved with Labor and Delivery-A Biomechanical Perspective

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