Early vs. Active Labor & the Stages of Labor

Labor consists of three basic stages. Within the first stage of labor there is latent (more commonly known as early) and active labor. Below you will find explanations of the different stages of labor.

First Stage: The first and longest stage of labor consists of two phases. The early labor phase, or latent labor, can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Your cervix will start to dilate as labor contractions progress. Your water may break on its own, or your provider may offer to break it for you. Most people enter active labor around 6 centimeters (cm) of dilation. In active labor your cervix starts dilating more quickly. Contractions also can become more intense and closer together. Eventually, your cervix will reach 10cm. 

Second Stage: During the second stage of labor, you will begin to push! This stage of labor can last up to a few hours, but usually shortens with each consecutive birth.

Third Stage: During the final stage of labor, you will birth your placenta (afterbirth). You will have contractions (usually more mild than labor contractions), and your provider may help to guide your placenta out.

While these are the basic stages, labor may be a bit more unpredictable. If your labor does not follow the “typical” progression, there are many ways to help. 

Early labor (definitions and timelines for early labor are controversial. There are some interventions that may help speed labor up, and/or help a laboring person cope): 

  • Medication (may help to cope, relax)
    • IV analgesia, such as opioids
    • Epidural 
  • Pitocin 
  • Amniotomy (breaking someone’s water) – should be done in addition to another intervention; done alone, it does not seem to accelerate labor 

Active labor (if a laboring person is dilating < or = 1cm over 2 hours, this is considered “protracted”. The interventions below may help)

  • Pitocin
  • Amniotomy 
  • Expectant management (continuing to wait and evaluate without further intervention)

Second stage (timelines are also controversial, and differ for first time laboring people and people who have had babies before. Generally, we expect a maximum of 3 hours of pushing for a first time parent, and 2 hours for someone who has had a baby before). Ways to expedite pushing phase if needed include: 

  • Pitocin 
  • Operative vaginal birth (forceps or vacuum assisted delivery) 

If despite all interventions, labor does not progress, your provider may recommend a Cesarean delivery.