Your contractions are getting stronger and more
painful. You rush to the hospital only to be told
it was false labor. So how can you tell? There are
no hard and fast rules that will allow you to definitely
differentiate between true and false labor but some
general characteristics in a gist:
• Signs
of False Labor
• Contractions are at irregular intervals
• There is no change in the length or pain
of the contractions
• Pain is primarily located at the lower abdomen
rather than your lower back
• Your show (the blood tinged mucus) if any,
is brownish (likely cause is an internal examination
or intercourse within the previous 48 hours)
• Contractions subside when you have two large
glasses of any nonalcoholic beverage
• Walking makes you feel better
• Lying down on your side makes the pain stop
• Signs of
True Labor
• Contractions come at regular intervals and
increase in length and duration (they are coming
at 4-5 minute intervals)
• Pain moves from front to back
• Walking has no effect on the pain or makes
you feel worse
• Contractions continue if you lie down on
your side
• Contractions don't subside despite two large
nonalcoholic beverage
• Show is present and either pinkish or blood
streaked
• Your membranes have ruptured
