Wavelet phase synchronization between EHGs at different uterine sites: Comparison of pregnancy and labor contractions

Abstract

This study investigates phase synchronization in the time-frequency domain between uterine signals recorded at different sites during the same contraction from women during pregnancy and women in labor. We used the complex Morlet wavelet transform to estimate the phase synchronization between the uterine signals. The method was applied on a set of uterine bursts during pregnancy and in labor. The results indicated that the uterine bursts are more synchronized in phase during pregnancy than during labor. This phase desynchronization during labor may be a tool to differentiate between contractions during pregnancy and labor and could therefore be used in the prediction of preterm labor. © 2010 International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering.