Final answer:
In true labor, contractions intensify with ambulation and do not stop with hydration or rest, whereas in false labor, contractions may not follow a regular pattern and can stop with movement or changes in position. Discomfort during true labor starts in the back and moves to the abdomen, and contractions are part of a feedback loop that involves cervical dilation and oxytocin production. The use of pitocin can help manage protracted labor by stimulating contractions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse differentiates false from true labor by explaining that in true labor contractions get stronger with ambulation. During true labor, regular contractions that immediately precede childbirth become more frequent and powerful over time and do not abate with hydration or rest. These contractions are part of a positive feedback loop where the uterine contractions stretch the cervix, leading to its dilation and effacement. As a result, cervical dilation enhances oxytocin secretion, triggering even more powerful uterine contractions.
True labor is characterized by discomfort that initially starts in the back and radiates to the abdomen, specifically in the fundus of the uterus. True labor contractions follow a regular pattern, become progressively more intense, and are usually not relieved by changing positions or walking. False labor, on the other hand, often presents with irregular contractions that may stop with ambulation or changes in activity.
In the scenario of Janine, who is 41 weeks pregnant with her first child, the continuation of mild contractions with limited cervical dilation indicates that she is experiencing protracted labor. The administration of an IV infusion of pitocin is used to augment her contractions and stimulate the progression of labor.