There is no telling how long it will be. As a doula, I have attended births lasting only an hour all the way through to 40 plus hours. Of course it is next to impossible for many woman to know exactly when they went into labor because the contractions kept coming on and off and eventually stayed steady. I have even known of some women who simply wake up and they were having their baby, without labor.

Every woman is different and each body is different. Since labor is thought to start when a change in hormones occurs, it can be difficult to peg down the exact start time. The most difficult concern that the laboring mom faces, is the question of "how long will it take"? The best advice that I can offer is to not think that way if possible. When you find yourself thinking that, change to "just stay in this moment". If you lose your concept of time and hide the clocks, it may help as well.

However, if it has been a long labor, it is important to rest as much as possible. Don't over expend yourself. Relaxation is key to a much easier labor. In my own experience, I had a full day of labor with my son at 12 hours, and only 3 hours with my daughter. So there is quite a difference from birth to birth typically. But there are women who seem to have births that follow similar sequence of events and timelines. Overall, it is best to simply take it moment by moment as it will not last forever.

How long was your labor or your family members' labor?