How Long Can A Birth Last?

The end of the pregnancy is approaching and it is inevitable to feel a little fear for what is to come: the birth. One of the most frequent doubts is how long a normal birth can take. Read on and you will find out all about it.

Childbirth is a physiological process divided into three phases. The total duration of the birth depends on several factors such as the position of the baby, the emotional state of the mother, if it is a first birth, etc.

Although there are “short” deliveries, they are quite rare and generally cause complications for the mother and baby. This type of birth is called “precipitous”. It is usually caused by complications or unforeseen events during pregnancy.

The ideal is that the birth process takes place in an adequate amount of time without wasting time. In this way, everything will follow its normal course and the mother’s organism will recover optimally.

Read on to get an idea of ​​how long a birth can take. Below we will see what the three normal phases of childbirth consist of.

How long can a birth last: the three phases

1. Dilating phase

This phase is the longest and is in turn divided into two stages. In the first, called the latent dilation phase, the contractions begin. These help modify the cervix. 

The belly hardens and relaxes and there is not much pain. The contraction begins in the lower back and extends towards the abdomen and pelvis. This stage does not have a definite duration, as the contractions are irregular and can last for days.

The next phase is that of active dilation. It begins when the cervix reaches a dilation of 3-4 centimeters. The contractions become more and more intense and regular and occur every 3 or 5 minutes. At this stage, the mother must be hospitalized.

In primiparas, dilation can last from 8 to 18 hours. In women who have already had children, however, the time is reduced to 5-12 hours.

2. Expulsive phase

This too is divided into two stages. The first is called the passive phase. The cervix has already reached the necessary dilation for the baby’s head to pass into the birth canal.  This is an expansion of 10 centimeters.

The next phase is the active phase. The mother feels the so-called “ejection reflex”. You will instinctively feel the need to push with each contraction. These will help you expel your child. The baby’s head is already visible in the birth canal. This phase can typically last from 35 to 50 minutes in all.

If the woman has chosen to resort to an epidural, the times can be lengthened and the expulsive phase can last up to 1 or 2 hours. The drug administered, in fact, represses the ejection reflex and the thrusts must be done consciously, following the indications of the midwife.

3. Phase of the afterbirth 

This is the last stage of childbirth and takes place after the baby is born. The woman feels painless contractions, which serve to expel the placenta, the amniotic sac and the membranes that contained the baby. 

The uterus retracts and becomes smaller as the blood vessels that fed the placenta gradually close. The afterbirth usually lasts about half an hour in the case of delivery without an epidural. On the contrary, it can last more than 60 minutes. 

If you take an average, a birth can last up to just over 9 hours in total.  We begin to calculate from when the first phase of dilation begins up to the afterbirth.

Obviously, each woman is unique and the actual duration of delivery will depend on several variables. Some of these are the woman’s age, state of health, the amount of previous births, and other factors.

Childbirth, like every process, is made up of phases that must be completed each with its own times. Only in this way will the birth of the child take place without problems. If you have any doubts about how long a birth can take, we recommend that you consult a specialist.