Final answer:
A pregnant woman might be suspected of having Braxton-Hicks contractions if she experiences mild, irregular contractions without progressive cervical dilation or loss of the mucus plug, characteristic of false labor. Treatment would typically involve rest or hydration, as opposed to true labor, which includes regular contractions, and cervical dilation, and might require intervention such as pitocin if labor does not progress.
Step-by-step explanation:
We suspect that a pregnant woman, Devin, at 35 weeks with her first child, is having Braxton-Hicks contractions because the symptoms she's experiencing—diffuse, mild contractions—are typical characteristics of these false labor pains.
Furthermore, upon examination, it is noted that her cervix has not begun to dilate and the mucus plug is still intact. Braxton-Hicks contractions can often be relieved with rest or hydration and do generally not lead to progressive cervical dilation or effacement that occurs in true labor.
In another scenario, Janine, 41 weeks pregnant, reports that she believes she has been in labor for days but without progressive labor is treated differently. Her cervix is only 2 cm dilated and the amniotic sac is intact, indicating that while she is experiencing contractions, they are not effectively leading to the progression of labor.
An IV infusion of pitocin is started to induce or augment her labor because she is past her due date and the labor is not advancing naturally.