A client who is primigravida at term comes to the prenatal clinic and tells the practical nurse (PN) that she is having contractions every 5 minutes. The PN monitors the client for one hour using an external fetal monitor, and determines that the client's contractions are 7 to 15 minutes apart, lasting 20 to 30 seconds, with mild intensity by palpation. Which action should the PN take?

A. The contraction pattern described is mild, irregular, and spaced more than 5 minutes apart, which is consistent with early or false labor. Hospital admission is not indicated until active labor begins, characterized by stronger, regular contractions. B. Encouraging hydration is helpful but insufficient in guiding labor management. While dehydration can contribute to irregular contractions, the main focus should be on recognizing the signs of true labor and when to seek care. C. True labor is indicated when contractions become regular, stronger, and closer together typically every 5 minutes for one hour signaling the onset of active labor that requires hospital evaluation. D. Although urinary tract infections can cause uterine irritability, the contractions described are consistent with early labor, not infection. Without symptoms such as dysuria or frequency, immediate hospital evaluation for UTI is unnecessary.