©Pregnancy bliss 2008
Latent phase of labor
The latent phase is the time when changes in the body start occurring in preparation for labor. This phase differs so widely among individuals, both in character and duration, that it almost defies description. Doctor will define this phase as that time when irregular and painful contractions start and continue to build up both in intensity and frequency. This may last from one to anything up to 24 hours, occasionally more. Partly because of this variation; the latent phase is not included in the main stages of labor (or labor proper as purists would describe it).
The latent phase tends to be long in the first pregnancy. Some women find the pain in this phase so mild that they can hardly believe that actual labor is imminent. Others are so distressed by the pain in this phase that hospital admission and repeated pain relief with strong painkillers is necessary.
The latent phase tends to blend imperceptibly into the first stage of labor and one should not expect to experience anything specific to signify the true onset of labor. Occasionally, professionals are also caught out. This may happen when a woman with very mild pains in the latent phase is admitted. A midwife may continue to believe that labor has yet to establish, only to be confronted by an imminent delivery a few hours later. This, fortunately, is uncommon.
Events in the latent phase of labor
The uterus is contracting irregularly and the various chemicals necessary for labor are being produced. Some of these are acting upon the cervix, causing it to soften, thin out and become more pliable. It then starts to open. For purely descriptive purposes, it is said that once the cervix has dilated beyond 3 cm, true labor is established and the latent phase has passed.
The three stages of labor
There are three main stages of labor.
Stage one starts at the end of the latent phase to the time the cervix is fully dilated (open).
Stage two starts at full cervical dilatation to the time the baby is delivered.
Stage three is from the time the baby is born to the delivery of the placenta (afterbirth).
Expected duration of the first stage of labor
This is the longest part of labor and the one most women remember vividly. It is the time when contractions get stronger and stronger in an endeavor to build up sufficient expulsive force to get the baby out.
The cervix is also continually dilating, to enable the baby to pass through to the outside world. Pain is the hallmark of this stage. That is unless she has effective pain relief such as an epidural; in which case she is likely to be blissfully oblivious of the titanic struggle in her pelvis. The whole process will normally last between six and ten hours. It could be much shorter; sometimes barely an hour. That is for the lucky few. Why duration of labor differs so markedly from one woman to another is one of the enduring mysteries of labor.
Labor is usually longer in the first pregnancy and, in most cases, gets shorter in each subsequent pregnancy. This is not a rule of thumb.