I also worked with a woman who had contractions now and then for 60 hours. She NEVER got into a pattern of 'established' labour, or regular contractions. Until her birth, I did not know a woman could get to 10 cm without there ever being a consistent pattern of contractions. I am sure that would have been pathologised had she been in hospital. But, she was at home, and although her labour was long, it was very gentle and the pushing stage was easy as.
I'm one of those women!! My contractions never got regular with DS. They were anywhere from 1 - 5 minutes apart & from 10 second to a minute long while I was actually birthing him!
I couldn't believe how random it was! Lol!!

Oh & I had 18hrs with DD1, 30 with DD2 & 5 with DS.
Hospital considered it 8 I think with DD1, 4 from when I got there with DD2 & I was only there for an hour & a half with DS!