as applied to childbirth, active labor is part of the "first stage" of labor the first stage of labor is the longest, as applied to childbirth, http://goo.gl/o2cPvx (about 2 hours to 30 minutes) as applied to childbirth, americanpregnancy.org transition early labor when the active labor phase changes to transition phase According to the American Pregnancy Association your cervix needs to be 10 cm dilated stage of labor stage of labor as applied to childbirth, stage of labor first stage of labor as applied to childbirth, American Pregnancy Association does happen in three stages early labor as applied to childbirth, ACTIVE LABOR ACTIVE LABOR American Pregnancy Association last about a minute and happen every 3-5 minutes as applied to childbirth, and this stage of labor generally last 8-12 hours ACTIVE LABOR stages of labor as applied to childbirth,