In comparison to the slow speed of early labor, it only takes a first-time mom 48 minutes on average to dilate from 5 to 6 cm. 6 to 7 cm travels even quicker, taking an average of 36 minutes. From then, most women will dilate 1 cm every 30 minutes until their cervix is 10 cm dilated (3). The time required for labor to proceed at a normal rate is called its "latency." A woman's latency period can be anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks, with an average of 42 days. The earlier a mother goes into labor, the shorter her latency period will be. If she delays the start of labor by going into premature contractions or having a cesarean section, her latency period will also be prolonged. Women who have a short latency period and whose babies are healthy usually do not experience any problems with their labors. However, if there are complications with the pregnancy or the delivery, a woman may need medical help to shorten her labor's latency period so that it matches her cervical dilation schedule. It is important for women to realize that the length of their labor does not matter as much as how fast it progresses. It is generally accepted that if a woman has a healthy baby and does not require additional assistance during the birth, her labor will have lasted between 12 and 24 hours after the complete dilation of her cervix.