In our newest paper, we quantified structural features of human pregnancy by assessing maternal reproductive tissues and estimated fetal weight in 47 low-risk pregnancies at four gestational timepoints. We measured uterocervical size and estimated fetal weight via ultrasound and used mechanical aspiration to measure cervical stiffness. From this data, patient- specific uterocervical solid models were built for each time point, and uterocervical dimensions and cervical stiffness rate changes were assessed. We found uterine growth rates and time and direction dependent, with cervical softening occurring fastest in early gestation and cervical shortening fastest in late gestation. This work enables computational modeling platforms (i.e. digital twins) to explore the structural performance of the uterus and cervix in pregnancy.
Through this work, we have released parametric solid models, based on measurements collected from ultrasonic images of the pregnant uterus and cervix. These models were created for each of the 47 longitudinal study participants at timepoints from the late first trimester to the middle third trimester.
Article – Nature Partner Journals Women’s Health
The Biomechanical Evolution of the Uterus and Cervix and Fetal Growth in Human Pregnancy
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This article was written by Dr. Erin Louwagie and co-authored by Serena Russell!
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