When do you start counting how long you are "in labor?"

littlewest1

No I am not even close to being in labor and this is not a question about how you know you if you are in labor or not! I just wondered when you start counting the hours. Most people say..."I was in labor for 12 hours, pushed 8 times and baby was here" or something. Do you count labor from when you start feeling contractions at home or when you go to the hospital? Just curious.

botanicalbliss

Hmmm, I would probably start counting when I start feeling a pattern of contractions or, if my water breaks before I start contracting, from that point. 

jerseygirl81

I started from the time I actually knew that I was in labor, which I counted as timeable contractions that were painful and didn't stop.

MomlovesEloise

I agree with PPs. When I was induced, I started counting after they broke my water and contractions became regular. I'm sure different people will say different things, though. 

littlewest1

So when someone says they were in labor for 24 hours it really means that they had timeable, painful contractions for a full 24 hours?  This is amazing to me!  And also very scary.

BeesMomma00

Depends I suppose.  My water broke (SLOW leak) on a Tuesday although I had no idea that's what it was until my Dr's Appt on Wednesday.  My Dr sent me to the hospital at 2:45 in the afternoon, they put in a follie catheter to help dilate my ce

TradeMama

I started counting from when my contractions were timetable, in a pattern, and I was sure I was on labor.

BekW2009

First time was from when my water broke, second time was when they started me on Pitocin and I started contracting.
The pushing part was from the start of the last phase, when the doctor says "it's time to push!"

burkems

JLGrove:

So when someone says they were in labor for 24 hours it really means that they had timeable, painful contractions for a fu

whirlygirl00

I started counting once my contractions were timeable and I knew they weren't going to stop which was like 5pm on a Friday night. I had DS at Noon on Saturday. 

However my first contraction came at 11pm Thursday night, but they came and stop

littlewest1

burkems:

JLGrove:</

SandiaPinaMama

I started from the first contraction that woke me up until he was in my arms.

littlewest1

BeesMomma00:

Depends I suppose.  My water broke (SLOW leak) on a Tuesday although I had no idea that's what it was unt

Lolalipsy

I will probably start counting when my contractions become time-able or when my waters break. 

Lolalipsy

KateRN08:

Most hospitals don't consider you to be in active labour until 4cm but as we all know you can be 4cm and not in labo

whirlygirl00

JLGrove:

BeesMomma00:

cookinitup

I suppose I never really thought about this before.  I've always said I was in labor for 22 hours - I counted from the time they started my induction with cytotek.  But I suppose if it starts from the time you feel contractions and can time them

AshleaB12

I count from when my water broke at 2am and my contractions immediately started. I ended up having my daughter 21.5 hours later via csection.

evelyntaylor

I counted from the time I had my first REAL contraction to the time he was out, which included 2 hours of pushing. 18 hours total.

June18Bride05

I counted from the time I got to the hospital until the baby was born. 

Jackateolive

With my first two I counted from my water breaking because I was not in active labor until induced later, but no matter what baby was coming that day.

hogrefea

Watering breaking until cs--33.5 hours.  

MaggieMooMom

JLGrove:

So when someone says they were in labor for 24 hours it really means that they had timeable, painful contractions for

Mama-Bear

When water breaks or when contractions are coming every ______ minutes.  I was in labor for 18 hours with DS1, at 5:09 am I lost my MP, my contractions started IMMEDIATELY, and at some point between then and 7:30 am my water broke (it wasn't a gush,