Spurious labour–is it of clinical significance? A pilot study

SummaryWomen presenting at term with strong, regular, distressing contractions who were not established in labour (cervix > 3 cm dilated) and who did not become established in labour within 12 hours were described as having ‘spurious labour'. Compared with controls they were more likely to be primigravidae (P<005). Compared with other primigravidae meconium staining of the amniotic fluid was more common (P < 0–001) and forceps delivery was more common (P<005). Caesarean section and low Apgar scores were no more common than in controls.