A nurse is caring for a female client who is gravida 1 para 0 at 32 weeks of gestation in the antepartum unit. For each assessment finding, click to specify if the finding is consistent with preterm labor or preterm prelabor rupture of membranes. Each client finding may support more than 1 disease process or none at all. There must be at least 1 selection in every column. There does not need to be a selection in every row.

Uterine contractions: hallmark of preterm labor but not typical of PPROM alone unless labor ensues. Low backache: common symptom of preterm labor due to uterine activity and pelvic changes; not directly associated with PPROM unless labor begins. Vaginal discharge: can be increased in both preterm labor (e.g., mucus plug changes, bloody show) and PPROM (amniotic fluid leakage or altered discharge). Cervical effacement: characteristic of labor process (preterm labor), not typically present in PPROM unless labor starts.