Contractions in early labor typically occur about every 5 to 20 minutes apart and last about 30 to 45 seconds. They are usually mild to moderate in intensity and irregular at first, with enough time between contractions to usually keep talking through them. Early labor can last hours to days, and contractions may sometimes pause or be irregular during this phase. As labor progresses, contractions become more frequent, closer to every 2 to 3 minutes in active labor, and last longer.
In summary, early labor contractions are roughly 5 to 20 minutes apart.
