"Spurious" labour - does it matter?

The obstetrical outcome of 357 pregnancies complicated by "spurious" labour was documented and compared with that in a control group. Patients with spurious labour were more likely to have had a spontaneous or induced abortion in the preceding pregnancy. In almost 85% of patients, the painful uterine contractions had ceased within 1 hour of hospital admission and there was no increased fetal morbidity in this group. There was a significantly increased incidence of meconium-stained liquor in patients who continued to have painful uterine contractions, but in whom labour did not ensue. Placental abnormalities were significantly more common in patients with spurious labour.