When does labor start?

Question

So, going off of another post about how long labor was for everyone. I just have to ask... When does labor start? What do you consider the start of your labor?

I think I must be missing something because I would describe my labor as more than 30 hours. During that time I slept, showered, ate, went for many walks. Labor just gradually came on getting stronger. I gave birth at 2:10 am and would say that labor began in the evening of the prior day.

Answer

It's ina few phases. The first phase can be weeks long! The second part is what people are usually talking about. Active labor from when your contractions are about five minutes apart until baby is born.

Answer

I separate it into two phases, soft labor (when contractions are building and cervix widening) and hard labor (when pushing) each of my kids I spent between 4-8 hours in soft labor and less than an hour pushing them out. My youngest (besides the one in the oven now lol) was out in 5 pushes, about 30 mins of hard labor.
I've given birth to four babies. I think I know labor lol

Answer

I say mine was 15 hours total started at 3 am had my son 636pm that day started with cramping feeling then bad gas pains then water broke

Answer

According to my hospital, active labor starts when the water breaks. But technically labor is when your contractions cause cervical dilation.

When does labor start?

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