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 contractions become more regular until they are less than 5 minutes apart. Active labor (the time you should come into the hospital) is usually characterized by strong contractions that last 45 to 60 seconds and occur three to four minutes apart.