Final answer:
In the transitional phase of Stage 1 labor, true labor contractions become more regular, frequent, and powerful over time, unlike false labor contractions that may subside with hydration or rest. A positive feedback loop involving cervical dilation and oxytocin release intensifies these contractions as labor progresses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristics of transitional phase contractions during stage 1 of labor are a critical aspect of true labor, which is the phase that immediately precedes childbirth. During this transitional phase, the contractions are known for their regularity and progressively increasing intensity. Unlike false labor contractions, these do not subside with hydration or rest and continue to become more frequent and powerful over time.
True labor follows a positive feedback loop where uterine contractions stretch the cervix, promoting its dilation and effacement (thinning). This, in turn, causes further uterine contractions, exacerbating the dilation and effacement process. Moreover, the dilation of the cervix stimulates the secretion of oxytocin from the pituitary gland, leading to even more forceful contractions. At the onset of labor, contractions might occur every 3-30 minutes, lasting 20-40 seconds, but by the end of stage 1, they can happen as frequently as every 1.5-2 minutes and last up to a full minute.
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