False pain and True labour pain

False pain -
It usually appears prior to the onset of true labour pain, by one or two weeks
in primigravidae and by a few days in multiparae. The woman feels pain and
discomfort in the abdomen and these are mistaken for labour pain.
False pain has got the following features -
  - Dull in nature and usually confined to the lower abdomen and groin.
  - Continuous and unrelated with hardening of the uterus.
  - Without any effect on dilatation of the cervix.
  - Usually relieved by enema and administration of a sedative.

True labour pain -
The features of true labour pain are -
  - Painful uterine contractions (labour pain) at regular intervals.
  - Contraction with increasing intensity and duration.
  - ''Show''.
  - Progressive effacement and dilatation of the cervix.
  - Formation of ''bag of waters''.

Que.-  What is ''Show'' in labour ?
Ans. -  Expulsion of cervical mucus plug, mixed with blood is called ''show''.

Que.-  What is ''Bag of water'' in labour ?
Ans. -  Due to stretching of lower uterine segment , the membranes are detached
           easily because of its loose attachment to the poorly formed decidua. With
           the dilatation of the cervical canal, the lower pole of the fetal membranes
           becomes unsupported and tends to bulge into the cervical canal. As it contains
           liquor which has passed below the presenting part, it is called ''bag of water''.
           Above the presenting part liquor is called ''hind waters'' and below the presenting
           part liquor is called ''forewaters''. After the contractions pass off, the bulging
           may disappear completely. This is almost a certain sign of onset of labour.