The definition of the start of active labour is actually controversial. What we define as the start of active labour is not well evidence based. Timing of admission/active labour impacts the outcomes of birth and might be the biggest determinant for CSection rates. Here's a summary of the evidence, my experience and the importance of timing of the start of active labour.

For clients, this episode might make you better understand decisions that you baby catcher has to make and better understand why early labour at home is important.

Here is some of the evidence on this topic:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26344012/

https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/abstract/2016/03000/cervical_dilation_on_admission_in_term_spontaneous.9.aspx

https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=102755

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330693478_Associations_among_cervical_dilatation_at_admission_intrapartum_care_and_birth_mode_in_low-risk_nulliparous_women

https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1016/j.ijgo.2005.12.016

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2928658/

Contemporary Patterns of Spontaneous Labor With NormalNeonatal Outcomes by Zhang et al. 2010. Obstet. Gynecol.