Which statement best describes false labor pains?

• A. Regular contractions with progressive cervical dilation
• B. Pain that does not involve the uterus
• C. True labor contractions with regular pattern
• D. Result of uterine contractions preceding labor and distinguished by lack of progressive effacement and cervical dilation

Answer: (D)

False labor pains are Braxton Hicks contractions that occur before true labor and do not cause progressive changes in the cervix. They may feel like irregular, mild contractions in the abdomen and don’t steadily intensify or lead to cervical dilation or effacement. The best description of false labor is that these contractions precede labor and are distinguished by a lack of progressive cervical changes. In contrast, true labor involves regular contractions that increase in strength and frequency and are accompanied by ongoing cervical dilation and effacement. The other statements describe true labor, contractions not involving the uterus, or true labor contractions with a regular pattern, none of which capture the nature of false labor.