From my first gel to DD being born was over 30 hours, but no I wasn't in labour that entire time, in fact I was only in labour for the last 7 hours when the drip was started, and I was bored out of my brain for the first day. It took that long because my cervis was nowhere near ready and I hyperreacted to the first dose of gel. Might be good for your DP to work if that is what is going to happen for you as it might take his mind of it and give him something to do.