NHS Suffolk and North East Essex - Labour and Birth Booklet

7 What to expect in labour and birth Stages of labour Early stage/latent phase Early labour (sometimes called the latent phase) can last anything from a few hours to a few days. In this time you may have periods of regular contractions, followed by periods of irregular contractions that can even stop for a few hours. During early labour your cervix will go from being thick, closed and firm to being soft, thin and stretchy. This change enables the cervix to start opening. See page 20 of this booklet for more information on coping in early labour. For more information visit: • Tommy’s www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/im-pregnant/pregnancy- news-and-blogs/what-latent-phase-labour