When do you start timing labor?

Question

So some people are like "I was in labor for 36 hours". I'm wondering when you officially start timing it? Is it when you're admitted to the hospital or when you start laboring at home with actual contractions?

Answer

Labor starts when you begin to feel regular contractions. During early labor, your cervix dilates and effaces. You'll feel mild, irregular contractions. Early labor is unpredictable and can last from hours to days. Next comes active labor. During active labor, your cervix will dilate from 6cm to 10cm. Your contractions will become stronger, closer together and regular. Active labor often lasts four to eight hours or more. On average, your cervix will dilate at approximately one centimeter per hour.

Answer

The nurses at the hospital I delivered at said they count it from when contractions are intense enough to interrupt sleep

Answer

I went from when my water broke. But that's also when my contractions got really bad to. My water broke at about 4 cm

Answer

I counted from when I started having consistent contractions at home with my first. They came out of nowhere and were consistent immediately. The doctor broke my water in the hospital after I had an epidural in. Labor stalled after I got it and they had to start pitocin, but I still had my son 16-17 hours after my contractions started.

Answer

I asked at the hospital and they said you start counting from active labour, so about 4 cm. With my son, I had contractions all day then my water broke in the evening and contractions slowed down. I was only like 2 cm I think so I don’t count the whole day as being in labour, but maybe some people might.

Answer

When you’re admitted usually. I got my hospital records and it said I was in labor for 25 hours so that’s what I go with. If I went with from when contractions started at home it’d be more like 29 hours.

Answer

I started when I got admitted to the hospital bc I had to be induced even tho I was dilated. They broke water and all that.

Answer

First baby was 30 hours from water breaking- contractions started immediately after. 
Second baby was 1.5 hours from water breaking, contractions started within 30 minutes. 
Third baby they wrote that I was in labor for just over 2 hrs, so that's what I go by. I'm not entirely sure when they started counting, as my water didn't break first that time. They stripped my membranes at 1pm and contractions were noticeable but not overwhelming starting shortly after that. I delivered at 4:30pm. Which makes 3.5 hours, so... I dunno.

When do you start timing labor?

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