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.
The First Stage of Labor. The first stage is the longest part of labor and can last up to 20 hours. It begins when your cervix starts to open (dilate) and ends when it is completely open (fully dilated) at 10 centimeters. When the cervix dilates from 0 to 3 or 4 centimeters, contractions get stronger as time progresses.