How is early labor contraction different from active labor contraction?


Early labor is the longest part of labor but the least intense. Early labor contractions can be anywhere from five to thirty minutes apart and last between 25 to 45 seconds with reasonable enough breaks in between. Some contractions are strong and some hardly there. Gradually the contractions will change in length, strength and get closer together paving the way for active labor. Active labor contractions, as we know, are forceful, stronger and closely spaced. Contractions during both early and active labor will cause the uterus to contract and press the baby down against the cervix. Both will impact the cervix to become softer, efface totally and open up to about 3 cm in early labor and to 4-7 cm during active labor.