When the entire uterine contents shift downward during late gestation so that the baby's head is brought into contact with the cervix, this is often mistaken as the onset of labor, so-called "false labor."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is known as "lightening" or "dropping," not "false labor." False labor refers to Braxton Hicks contractions, which are irregular and do not lead to labor.

When the Entire Uterine Contents Shift Downward During Late Gestation