Patient's question:
My wife started having contractions repeatedly last night, and they gradually got worse. It's almost ten hours now, and she hasn't given birth yet. How long do contractions usually last before labor?Doctor's answer:
The average duration for first-time mothers is 12 to 14 hours, with the longest generally not exceeding 24 hours and the shortest possibly being less than 3 hours. If the duration is less than 24 hours, it is called prolonged labor; if it is less than 3 hours, it is called precipitate labor. Such conditions are unfavorable for both the mother and the child, as they can easily lead to fetal hypoxia and maternal injury. If it is the second birth, the labor process is generally faster, with only a few hours of pain before delivery.