Final answer:
Angela should have her cervix checked by a trained healthcare professional. Healthcare workers can distinguish between Braxton Hicks and true labor contractions by assessing the state of the cervix. Cervical dilation is a key indicator of labor progress.
Step-by-step explanation:
If Angela is experiencing contractions and wishes to determine whether they are Braxton Hicks or true labor contractions, she should have a trained healthcare professional check the dilation of her cervix. This could be her obstetrician, midwife, or a nurse who is qualified and trained in maternal health care. They can assess whether the contractions are causing cervical changes indicative of labor progress, such as dilation and effacement.
Regarding Devin, who is 35 weeks pregnant, the intact mucus plug and absence of cervical dilation suggest that her contractions are not indicative of true labor, and therefore she is advised to return home. And for Janine, who is 41 weeks along, the administration of Pitocin is to induce or strengthen labor contractions due to her prolonged dilation stage, as her contractions are not effectively progressing labor.
The cervical dilation stage is the first stage of labor and is the process where the cervix must dilate fully to about 10 cm in diameter in preparation for the baby to pass through. This stage is the longest and can widely vary in duration.