Contractions in early labor typically last about 30 to 45 seconds each. They are usually mild to moderate in intensity and may occur irregularly, about every 5 to 20 minutes, and sometimes they may stop for a while. Early labor contractions often allow for talking and movement during them. The early labor phase can last for hours to even 2 to 3 days, especially for first-time mothers, as the cervix dilates from 0 to about 6 centimeters.
Some sources note that early labor contractions may last from 20 to 40 seconds initially and can gradually increase in length and frequency as labor progresses toward active labor. While the duration per contraction in early labor is generally under a minute, as labor advances, contractions become longer and closer together.
In summary, early labor contractions last roughly between 30 and 45 seconds, occurring at intervals that can range widely, and this phase can persist for a prolonged period as the cervix prepares for active labor.
