"Prodromal labor" refers to the early stage of childbirth where a woman experiences irregular and mild contractions before true labor begins. Full definition
Rather than thinking of prodromal labor as «false labor,» it might be more helpful to think of it as «practice labor.» (candokiddo.com)
I never really experienced prodromal labor with my other two pregnancies that came to term to a point where I thought it was actual labor but little Miss Cora decided she would make things interesting and make us believe I was in labor about 3 - 4 times before the actual day came. (bonniehussey.com)
Going to almost 42 weeks (well technically to exactly 42 +0 by the time he was born) was also challenging, especially with prodromal labor for almost 3 weeks. (mamanatural.com)