what does prolonged latent phase of labor means?
Prolonged Latent Phase. Labor consists of regular, frequent uterine contractions leading to progressive change in the cervix. Usually, labors begin gradually, with very slow change up to 4 cm. This part of labor is called the latent phase. Latent phase labor can last hours or days, but is usually measured in a few hours. Latent phase labor is considered abnormal (prolonged latent phase), if it lasts longer than: 20 hours in a woman having her first baby, or.
The First Stage of Labor. The first stage is the longest part of labor and can last up to 20 hours. It begins when your cervix starts to open (dilate) and ends when it is completely open (fully dilated) at 10 centimeters. When the cervix dilates from 0 to 3 or 4 centimeters, contractions get stronger as time progresses.