“Spurious” Labour — Does it Matter?

Abstract

Summary: The obstetrical outcome of 357 pregnancies complicated by “spurious” labour was documented and compared with that in a control group. Patients with spurious labour were more likely to have had a spontaneous or induced abortion in the preceding pregnancy. In almost 85% of patients, the painful uterine contractions had ceased within 1 hour of hospital admission and there was no increased fetal morbidity in this group. There was a significantly increased incidence of meconium‐stained liquor in patients who continued to have painful uterine contractions, but in whom labour did not ensue. Placental abnormalities were significantly more common in patients with spurious labour.