early labor
Birth's opening phase
Early labor is the initial phase of childbirth, when contractions begin but are still relatively mild and infrequent.
The cervix gradually dilates during this stage, which can last hours or even days for first-time mothers.
She stayed home through early labor, timing contractions until they were five minutes apart.
Also called latent labor.
- contractionsShortened word forms
- dilationWidening of an opening
- cervixUterine opening to vagina
- twingesBrief, sharp sensations
- crampsInvoluntary muscle tightening
mucus plug · water breaking · due date · timing · breathe · hospital · midwife · nesting · backache · pressure · effacement · first stage · prodromal · latent · pacing · walking · birthing · birthing ball
- childbirthcontractions, pushing, dilation, birth, crowning
- labor signscontractions, water breaking, mucus plug, dilation, effacement
- newbornsbaby, preemie, newborn, neonate, premature baby
stage of labor progression
early labortransition
Change from one state
active labor · delivery · crowning · hard labor · bearing down
early, earlier, earliest, labor, labour, laborer, labourer, laborers, labourers