Name a sign of an impending uterine rupture during labor.

The sign of an impending uterine rupture during labor that indicates a serious and urgent situation is sudden, severe abdominal pain accompanied by the loss of fetal heart tones. This symptom arises because a uterine rupture can cause significant internal bleeding, leading to compromised blood flow to the fetus, which may result in the abrupt cessation of fetal heart activity.

Sudden and intense abdominal pain is a critical indicator that something is wrong, often signaling that the integrity of the uterus has been disrupted. The correlation with the loss of fetal heart tones further emphasizes the severity of the condition, as it reflects fetal distress resulting from the rupture.

In contrast, regular uterine contractions are a normal part of the labor process and do not indicate an imminent complication. Likewise, increased fetal movement is generally a reassuring sign of fetal well-being, and while an elevated maternal heart rate can reflect various conditions, it is not specific to impending rupture without accompanying signs of distress or pain. Overall, the presence of sudden, severe abdominal pain with loss of fetal heart tones is a critical and alarming signal that requires immediate medical attention.