Electrical breast stimulation. Oxytocin, prolactin and uterine response

Abstract

Electrical breast stimulation using a modified electromyograph was performed on 10 pregnant women between 38 and 42 weeks of gestation. An adequate uterine contraction pattern (at least three contractions lasting > or = 30 seconds in a 10-minute interval either recorded by external tochodynamometry, palpated and/or felt by the patient) was obtained in 8 of the 10. Two patients, however, had uterine hyperstimulation (contractions lasting > 90 seconds). In contrast to previous reports, serum oxytocin levels increased significantly in 7 of the 10 patients. Moreover, this increase preceded or was concomitant with the uterine contractions. Serum prolactin varied unpredictably following electrical breast stimulation. The stimulation was well tolerated, without any discomfort, by all the patients. Electrical breast stimulation can thus be used for the stimulation of uterine contractions.