What is the average labor

Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Labor has three stages , but the active phase of the first stage is what many think of, as it is when contractions become strong and frequent.

This phase can last 4 to 8 hours. In total, all of the stages of labor—from when the baby 'drops' lightening to delivery of the placenta —can take 12 to 24 hours for first births and about 8 to 10 hours for subsequent ones. These ranges may not match up with what you've heard friends report about their experiences, however. While it's normal to wonder what the average labor time is for most women, especially as your due date approaches, it's important to remember that every labor and delivery is different, and labor time is often very unpredictable.

Furthermore, how labor time is counted can vary, which affects reports that come from researchers and healthcare providers and, therefore, reported statistics. If it's not your first birth, you may very well find that the lower ends of these timeframes apply in your case though that's not a given. For the purposes of statistical analysis, the lengths of the stages of labor may be reported separately or lumped together.

This can help explain why you may see slight differences in labor times when reading up on the topic. The phases of stage 1 are generally defined as follows:. Some doctors and researchers consider the early labor and active phases of stage 1 one and the same. And since early labor doesn't happen in the hospital in most cases, it is hard for its duration to always be accurately measured. This is likely why it doesn't appear in much of the data that analyzes the length of labor—and why many studies vary in how it is documented.

For this reason, many hospitals record data for active labor only. Women who remain in the first stage of labor for more than 17 hours are more likely to be considered for interventions to move things along. Common options include:. Some doctors are more conservative than others when making these determinations.

Doctors will consider multiple factors—including recommended laboring time limits and whether or not the mother and baby appear to be doing well—when deciding how long to let labor continue. The length and experience of each labor are different for every woman and pregnancy. Though the duration of one's labor can't be guaranteed, there are a variety of factors that can influence it. Some include:. What laboring mothers experience has changed over time with the advent of pain interventions, new offerings at hospitals such as baths for water births , and much more.

Labor time has changed too, mainly due to when women are choosing to have their babies and how doctors are now approaching later-stage deliveries. A study done by the NIH compared data on almost , spontaneous, singleton births from two time periods: and The review showed that the average time spent in active labor was longer for first-time moms in the more recent years than the earlier ones, when most labor patterns began to be recorded 6.

These contractions can last up to 60 seconds and can be between 5 to 30 minutes apart. Contractions will increase in strength and frequency as your labor progresses. At this time, your cervix will start to dilate open and will reach 6 centimeters by the end of this phase. How Long It Will Last : Early labor is the longest part of labor and can last 12 to 24 hours or longer if this is your first baby.

Because of this, it is important to be patient and try to rest as much as possible. If you are at least 37 weeks, expecting a single baby and have no medical complications, you should continue to stay at home until it is difficult to breathe through or talk through contractions. If you arrive at Labor and Delivery in early labor, after careful evaluation of you and your baby, your doctor may recommend that you return when you are further along in labor. The earlier you are admitted in your labor process, the longer your hospital stay.

If you experience any of the following, call your provider or come to the hospital:. What to Expect : Your contractions are stronger, longer and closer together. Contractions can last up to 60 to 90 seconds and are approximately 2 to 5 minutes apart. Dilation typically happens more rapidly in active labor than in early labor, your cervix dilates to 6 to 8 centimeters. How Long It Will Last : For many people giving birth for the first time, active labor typically lasts 4 to 8 hours.

What to Expect : Your contractions are the strongest, longest and closest together. Contractions can last 60 to seconds and are usually 2 to 3 minutes apart. Your cervix dilates from 8 to 10 centimeters and when you reach 10 centimeters, you begin the second stage. What to Expect : Your cervix has fully dilated to 10 centimeters. You may feel pressure and the urge to push. Your doctor or midwife will let you know when to start pushing.

However, you only push when you are having a contraction and you can rest in between. What to Expect : Your placenta is delivered. You may experience chills or shakiness during this time. This stage can take up to 30 minutes. Once the placenta is delivered, you enter the fourth stage of labor as your uterus returns to its original size.

Many people feel light cramping during this period. This can be due to beliefs about pain in labor, pain tolerance, support in labor and delivery, and previous injury or trauma. There are both medicated and nonmedicated options available. Discuss with your provider the pain management options available to you during your labor and childbirth. Watch this video to learn how to manage labor pains that begin at home and explore your pain-management choices once you get to the hospital. Most birth plans include having a vaginal delivery, however, there are times where an unscheduled, or even an emergency, cesarean delivery is necessary.

Your doctor may require you to have an unplanned cesarean delivery for several reasons - labor is not progressing, contractions are too weak, the umbilical cord is pinched or wrapped, abnormal heart beat is detected in the fetus, there is an issue with the placenta, the baby is too large, or the baby is breech. Understanding what to expect with a cesarean birth will help you better prepare in the event you require this procedure.

Research indicates that if this phase lasts for more than four hours it increases the risk that the baby will suffer complications due to lack of oxygen that could lead to brain damage, seizures, and breathing problems. However, as with stage one, there's a wide variation and some lucky mothers can push the baby out in minutes.

The hardest part is over. In this final stage of labor, contractions will continue, but they won't be nearly as painful nor will they be regular as with the first two stages of labor.

In this final stage, you'll deliver the placenta with a small push and slight traction on the umbilical cord by the obstetrician. If the placenta has detached from the uterus, it will only take about five minutes to deliver it. However, the process can take as much as an hour, according to the Mayo Clinic. After labor, you should be proud of yourself for working hard and persevering through all the painful contractions. Whether your labor lasts hours or days, the result will be the same: a baby is born and that can make the whole process worth it.

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