What Alan is saying is right EMZ. I have had four completely different birthing experiences. Wth my last baby Gels were inserted at 8am (much to my OB's disgust, he wanted to strip my membranes, I refused, slow and steady wins the race), I laid there for 30-45 mins as you're suposed to and then I walked and walked and rested on my birthing ball and walked some more. As with my previous labour the contractions were not very strong, enough for me to just stop and breathe but not white knuckle stuff. With my third my water broke and then whooo look out it was very intense (white knuckle stuff) but she was born with in an hour of rupture, but I didn't tear and I did it drug free. With my last one everything stopped at about 4pm, I was devastated and I had to wait for the OB to come and break my waters, because the midwife didn't want to rupture them because she (bub) was still so high up and was worried about cord prolapse. He (OB) finally got to me at about 7.30pm made a sarcastic comment about how I should have let him rupture my membranes that morning (like hell). Because she was still so high up and he could feel the cord he had to guide her head down slowly, It was the most disgusting feeling, not painful, but very uncomfortable, I just wanted him out of there. Anyway DD4 was born about 1 1/2 hours later, no drugs, no tears and in my own time. I'm doing it all again in June on my terms yet again and I'm positive it will be a great birth experience.