1. A rhythmic tightening in labour of the upper uterine musculature that contracts the size of the uterus and pushes the foetus toward the birth canal
   "The frequency of uterine contractions increased as labour progressed"

Derived forms: uterine contractions

Type of: contraction, muscle contraction, muscular contraction

Part of: childbed [archaic], confinement, labor [US], labour [Brit, Cdn], lying-in, parturiency, travail [literary]

Encyclopedia: Uterine contraction