A nurse is assessing a client who presents to the labor and delivery unit reporting the onset of contractions. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as a manifestation of false labor?

Rationale: A. Slow change in dilation and effacement: Even slow cervical changes are indicative of true labor. False labor does not cause any progressive cervical dilation or effacement, making this an inconsistent finding for false labor. B. Contraction intensity increased by ambulation: In true labor, contractions typically intensify with activity such as walking. In contrast, false labor contractions often diminish or resolve with changes in position or ambulation. C. Presence of bloody show: Bloody show results from cervical dilation and the disruption of cervical capillaries. It is a hallmark of true labor and would not be expected during false labor. D. Intermittent, painless contractions: False labor is characterized by irregular, non-progressive, and typically painless contractions, often referred to as Braxton Hicks contractions. These are normal in late pregnancy but do not indicate true labor.