Glossary

Term · Getting Ready for Birth

latent phase

Also: early labor, latent labor, early first stage

The first, longer part of labor, when the cervix opens from about 0 to 6 centimeters and contractions are often mild and spaced out.

In plain words

The latent phase is the early part of labor. It starts with the first regular contractions and lasts until the cervix is about 6 centimeters open. Contractions in this phase are often mild and spaced out, and they may come and go. Many people spend hours here, and some spend a day or more. Early labor can often be managed at home. It is common for early labor to start and stop. The phase is normal, and no fixed length is required. Clinicians have changed how they define the end of this phase over the years, and what counts as a normal early phase is now considered longer than was once believed. If contractions become strong, close together, or come with bleeding or fluid leaking, call your care team. Your provider can tell you what to watch for.

The deeper version

The latent phase runs from the onset of regular contractions to the start of the . The 2014 ACOG and SMFM Obstetric Care Consensus on preventing primary delivery moved the start of the active phase from 4 cm to 6 cm, which lengthened the latent phase considered normal. The same consensus defines failed only after at least 24 hours of with ruptured membranes without entering the active phase. Latent phase length is highly variable, and prolonged latent labor is associated with exposure to interventions in both mother and baby. The controversy concerns whether managing early labor at home reduces cesarean rates or only delays intervention, and which thresholds should trigger evaluation.

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Sources

  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine — Obstetric Care Consensus No. 1: Safe Prevention of the Primary Cesarean Delivery, 2014

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