How long does labour last? What is the average length of labour and birth?
In medical terms, labour is divided into three stages:
- First stage – your uterus and body are getting ready. Your cervix softens and begins to open until it is fully open (dilated). This is sometimes called the “up stage”, because the sensations pull upwards.
- Second stage – this begins when you feel the urge to push. It’s sometimes called the “pushing stage” or “down stage”, because the sensations push downwards. At the end of this stage, your baby is born!
- Third stage – the birth of the placenta, the final stage of labour.
So, how long does labour last? According to the NHS, a first labour lasts on average 8–12 hours, and later labours are usually much quicker (around 5 hours). However, midwives only start timing from when you are in established labour – when your cervix is around 4cm dilated. The contractions and sensations you experience before then aren’t officially counted, although birthing people usually include that time when they describe their experience. From your baby dropping (lightening) to the start of established labour can take hours, or sometimes days with a first baby. Use this time to rest when you can, stay hydrated and keep your positive energy up!
Although the NHS and other healthcare providers divide labour into three stages, it isn’t always that simple. Each stage can be broken down into smaller steps, and people who have given birth or attended births often describe many more stages. Milli Hill, for example, divides birth into 15 steps in The Positive Birth Book (affiliate link).
Here is a graphic showing a timeline of childbirth:
