How long do contractions last? Each stage of labor explained

Contractions last anywhere from about 20 to 70 seconds, depending on the stage of labor (Cleveland Clinic). Near the end they can last 60 to 90 seconds (HealthLinkBC). Labor as a whole is a separate question: ACOG gives a typical 12 to 18 hours for a first baby. Both vary a lot from person to person.

How long does a single contraction last?

The length of a contraction is timed from the moment it starts until it eases off. How far apart contractions are is timed from the start of one to the start of the next. Typical values by stage:

Stage of labor	Each contraction lasts	Contractions come every	Source
Early (latent) labor	15 to 30 seconds at first, later up to 45	10 to 20 minutes at first, later 5 to 7	HealthLinkBC
Active labor	40 to 70 seconds	3 to 5 minutes	Cleveland Clinic
Transition	60 to 90 seconds	2 to 3 minutes	HealthLinkBC
Pushing	About 60 to 90 seconds	2 to 5 minutes	Cleveland Clinic

HealthLinkBC is a health service of the Canadian province of British Columbia. Other sources give slightly different ranges. Cleveland Clinic gives 20 to 30 seconds for early labor contractions, which may come every 30 to 60 minutes. The contraction chart shows typical values as a diagram and has a log to print. The trend tells you more than one contraction: true labor contractions come in a regular pattern, get closer together and steadily get stronger (ACOG).

Early labor: hours or even days

Early labor, also called the latent phase of labor, is when your cervix starts to soften and open. The NHS says it can take many hours, or even days, before you’re in established labor. It’s usually the longest stage. Contractions in this phase can range from slightly uncomfortable to more painful. There’s no set pattern to how many you get or how long they last. HealthLinkBC adds that your mucus plug may come away in early labor, as a pinkish discharge called a “show”.

NICE describes the latent phase as a period that is not necessarily continuous. Contractions may ease off for a while and then pick up again. Cleveland Clinic gives 6 to 12 hours as a typical length for early labor. ACOG’s 2024 guideline says the latent phase varies in length, whether or not you’ve had a baby before. It calls the latent phase prolonged after more than 16 hours. ACOG also says there’s no accepted definition of a stalled latent phase and that a cesarean should be avoided for one (AAFP).

The NHS suggests a few things for this stage:

• Eat and drink, because you’ll need energy once labor is established.
• If labor starts at night, try to stay comfortable and relaxed, and sleep if you can.
• If it starts during the day, stay upright and gently active, which helps your baby move down into your pelvis and your cervix to open.
• Try breathing exercises, massage, or a warm bath or shower to ease the pain.

If you seek help with painful contractions before labor is established, NICE says the unit should recognize that contractions can hurt without cervical change. It should offer you individual support and pain relief if needed. To learn what these early contractions typically feel like, see what contractions feel like.

Active labor: when it starts and how long it lasts

When active labor starts depends on the guideline your hospital follows. In the UK, NICE defines established labor as regular contractions with progressive dilation of the cervix from 4 cm. In the US, ACOG’s 2024 guideline starts the active phase at 6 cm (AAFP). Before that, regular, painful contractions count as the latent phase. Your midwife or doctor checks how far your cervix has opened with a vaginal exam.

How long it lasts depends partly on where you start counting:

• NICE counts from 4 cm. First labors last on average 8 hours and are unlikely to last over 18. Second and later labors average 5 hours and are unlikely to last over 12.
• From established labor to full dilation, the NHS says it usually takes 8 to 18 hours in a first pregnancy. In a second or third, it’s often around 5 to 12 hours.
• Cleveland Clinic, counting from about 6 cm, says active labor typically lasts 4 to 8 hours.

In active labor, Cleveland Clinic says contractions can feel so intense that you can’t talk or walk. For what happens in each phase, see the stages of labor.

Pushing and the placenta: how long the last stages take

The second stage runs from full dilation at 10 cm to the birth of your baby. Without an epidural, NICE expects most first births within 3 hours of the start of active pushing. For later births, it expects most within 2 hours. HealthLinkBC puts the second stage at 1 to 3 hours for a first baby, and longer with an epidural. Cleveland Clinic considers pushing prolonged after 3 hours for a first birth, or 4 hours with an epidural. If you’ve given birth before, the limits are 2 hours, or 3 with an epidural.

The third stage is the delivery of the placenta. With an oxytocin injection to speed it up, the placenta usually comes within 30 minutes of the birth. Without the injection, it can take up to an hour for the placenta to come away (NHS). Pushing it out usually only takes a few minutes.

How long does labor last overall?

ACOG says labor typically lasts 12 to 18 hours for a first baby. For women who have given birth before, it’s typically 8 to 10 hours. Cleveland Clinic gives a wider average of 12 to 24 hours for a first birth. These totals depend a lot on when labor is counted as starting. That’s hard to pin down when early labor stops and starts. ACOG notes that your labor may not be like your mother’s, sister’s or friend’s, and that it can differ with each child.

Stage	Cervix	Typical length	Source
Early (latent) labor	Up to 4 cm (UK) or 6 cm (US)	Hours to days; often 6 to 12 hours	NHS, Cleveland Clinic
Active labor	From 4 or 6 cm to 10 cm	First labor about 8 hours on average, unlikely over 18; later labors about 5, unlikely over 12	NICE, counted from 4 cm
Pushing	10 cm to birth	Most first babies within 3 hours, later babies within 2 hours	NICE, without an epidural
Placenta	After the birth	Usually within 30 minutes with an oxytocin injection, up to an hour without	NHS

Timing your own contractions

To see where you are, time several contractions in a row; how to time contractions explains how. The Contraction Timer app measures the length and the interval for you and shows the average over the last hour. How the app calculates walks through those numbers.

Cleveland Clinic suggests calling your provider or the hospital labor floor once contractions come every five minutes. That pattern should have held for at least an hour. Ask your care team for their own rule before your due date, and see when to go to the hospital for more.