i count mine from the time that my waters broke as that was the only time that contractions were consistent in pattern and had a bit more length to them. prior to that they could be 1 min apart, or 15 min apart and only lasting max 30 secs but on average maybe 15-20 secs.

but my midwives have recorded labour as lasting 2.15 hours as they reckon that my contractions probably in the hour before DD2 was born were probably already established labour . they arrived after my waters broke though and to me, i only count the moment from when they broke as 'labour' as that was when it was all i could concentrate on lol. (sooo...1.15 hours).

HTH!