A successor may refer to: Someone who, or something which succeeds or comes after (see success and succession) Successor (horse), an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Successor was the working name for the class of British ballistic missile submarines, since renamed the Dreadnought-class.
How long it lasts: Early labor is unpredictable. For first-time moms, the average length of early labor is six to 12 hours. It's often much shorter for subsequent deliveries. What you can do: Until your contractions increase in frequency and intensity, it's up to you.
There are three stages of labor in a routine vaginal birth, which is the most common and generally the safest delivery option. Stage 1, the longest stage, can last hours or even days. Stage 1 is divided into three phases: During the latent, or first phase of labor, you can expect: 1  Contractions will be mild and 15 to 20 minutes apart at the beginning. They will become more frequent, less than five minutes apart, as this phase progresses. 2  Your cervix will dilate to approximately 3 or 4 centimeters and efface, or thin.