When you think about labour, you might picture a neat, step-by-step process: early labour, active labour, transition, pushing, then birth. This structured timeline is comforting in theory, but the reality of labour is far more dynamic. Every person’s journey to bringing a baby into the world is completely unique—and that’s exactly how it should be.
In fact, the idea of labour progressing like clockwork—such as dilating at 1 cm per hour—is based on outdated concepts that don’t reflect the incredible variety of birth experiences. Let’s unpack where these ideas come from and why it’s time to let go of rigid expectations.
Where Did the "1 cm Per Hour" Rule Come From?
The idea that labour should progress at a predictable rate comes from the Friedman Curve, a concept developed in the 1950s by Dr. Emanuel Friedman. He studied a small group of labours (primarily white, first-time mothers under highly medicalised conditions) and charted how their cervixes dilated over time.
From this, he created a curve that suggested labour progresses in a linear fashion—dilating 1 cm per hour during active labour. This graph became the gold standard for managing labour, and deviations from it often led to unnecessary interventions like augmented labour or caesarean sections.
But here’s the problem: Friedman’s research doesn’t account for the immense variability in labour.
Why the Friedman Curve is Outdated
Modern research has debunked the idea that labour must follow a strict timeline. A 2014 study published by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) found that normal labour can progress much slower—or faster—than the Friedman Curve suggests, especially in the early stages.
Key findings include:
Some people may dilate from 1 cm to 10 cm in hours, while others take days—and both are normal.
Labour often stalls and restarts, particularly during early labour.
Second (or subsequent) labours tend to progress much faster than first births.
The rigid timelines of the past have been replaced by a deeper understanding of labour’s unpredictable nature.
The Fluidity of Labour
Labour doesn’t unfold in tidy, linear stages. Instead, it’s more like a flowing river—sometimes fast, sometimes slow, with unexpected twists and turns.
Cervical Dilation is Not a Straight Line
One of the biggest misconceptions is that dilation happens steadily over time. In reality, someone can go from 1 cm to 10 cm in minutes, while others may hover at 5 cm for hours. Progress isn’t always visible or measurable by dilation alone—changes in the baby’s position, the cervix’s texture, or the body’s hormone levels all play a role.
"Early" vs. "Active" Labour Blurs Together
The distinction between early and active labour isn’t always clear-cut. Contractions may start and stop, increase in intensity, or seem to stall altogether. This is normal and doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong.
Transition is Wildly Unpredictable
The transition phase (from 7 cm to 10 cm) is often described as the most intense, but even this can vary. Some people experience rapid, overwhelming contractions, while others move through it more gradually.
Why Rigid Timelines Can Be Harmful
When care providers rely too heavily on timelines or stages, it can lead to unnecessary interventions, such as:
Labour Augmentation: Using drugs like oxytocin to speed up labour that may not need speeding up.
Premature Decisions for Caesarean: Declaring “failure to progress” too soon.
Increased Anxiety: When labour doesn’t follow the expected path, parents can feel like something is wrong, even when it’s not.
These interventions often ignore the body’s natural rhythm and the fact that labour isn’t a one-size-fits-all process.
Trusting the Process: How to Navigate Labour’s Unique Path
Instead of focusing on dilation or timelines, here are better ways to approach labour:
1. Trust Your Body
Your body knows how to birth your baby. It’s working behind the scenes in ways you can’t always see or measure.
2. Focus on Progress, Not Numbers
Instead of asking, “How dilated am I?” look at other signs of progress: changes in contraction patterns, pressure, or emotional shifts.
3. Communicate with Your Care Team
If you feel rushed or pressured, ask questions like:
“Is my baby okay?”
“Am I okay?”
“What are the risks of waiting versus intervening?”
4. Use Your Tools
Breathing techniques, movement, vocalisation, and support from your partner or doula can help you work with the intensity of labour, no matter how it unfolds.
Reclaiming Birth as a Unique Experience
The idea of rigid stages or timelines doesn’t account for the individuality of birth. Your labour might not look like anyone else’s—and that’s exactly how it should be.
Instead of focusing on “what stage you’re in” or “how long it’s taking,” embrace the process as your own. Trust your body’s wisdom, lean on your support team, and remember: no graph or rule can define your birth story.
Birth isn’t about following a curve; it’s about following your own path.
Comments