My first baby was one day overdue. I woke up with contractions 5 min apart and regular at 6:30 am on a Saturday morning. Had a bath, and got dressed. Water broke, called the hospital, and arrived at hospital at 9:30 or so. I was 2-3 cm, and I think about 90% effaced. By around 12:00 I was in heavy labour, and not coping so well - I panicked, and just wanted to be done! I was active throughout the labour - walking the halls, and in the bath, but by then, I was just done. I was shaking, crying, and puking. I had a shot of nubain (narcotic pain relief) and instantly relaxed into an almost sleep-like state, although I was still in pain from the contractions. I should have known that the rough spot there was transition - pretty much as soon as that shot was in, I was ready to push. (Not such a good thing for baby, but she was fine) DD1 was born at 1:25, after about an hour of pushing. She was 6lb 14oz, and 20 inches long, born without tearing. (hurray!) 7 hours of labour from start to finish.

My second baby was 6 days early. I was worried about an even faster labour, especially since DH was working about an hour away, and his cell phone was not working reliably. But I went into labour on a Sunday morning around 2:00am. So he was home. Again, I woke up with contractions 5 min apart and regular. We headed into the hospital, after dropping DD1 off at my MIL's house. Arrived at 3:30, or so, and started walking and walking and walking. Labour continued, but didn't pick up. My water didn't break. The nurses advised that I rest, but I wanted to be done with this! So I sat up on the bed for a while and rocked while DH slept. Around 7:30 my doctor came in, and checked me. I was about 5-6 cm. I asked if she could break my water and she agreed. Remembering what happened during hard labour last time, I asked for the nubain shot first, and they agreed. So I had the shot, they broke my water, and within 45 min, I was pushing. 15 min after that, DD2 was born, at 8:50. 7lb 10oz (I think!) and 21 inches long. No tearing. About 7 hours total, again.

DD3 was born at home. She arrived one day after her due date (which was brutal for me - I was counting on another early one!) I woke up with real contractions on a Tuesday morning around 6: 30, after a few weeks of achy pre-labour. (oh, that was a long haul!) Called the midwife who came and examined me and said I was about 3-4 cm. Labour stopped when she arrived. Guess I was nervous about her being in my house. (Strange - I liked and trusted her. Just a new situation I suppose. Not sure what to do.) When she left, contractions started again, and DH and I spent the day walking around town, watching movies, and waiting for things to pick up. Labour stayed steady, but light until about 5:30, or so. Then the midwife came and broke my water around 6:15 (I hadn't dilated any further!) and instantly labour became intense. I got straight into the bath, and laboured there. (water is great, BTW!) I managed without any other pain relief, and by 8:20 or so, I was pushing. 8:25 DD3 was born in the bath, after 2 pushes, without tearing. 7lb 8oz, 20.5 inches. About 12 hours of light pre-labour/labour, and about 2 hours of "real" labour.

I had "easy" complication-free labours all three times, so far, for which I am really thankful! The pushing time was reduced from one baby to the next, but the over-all labour time, for me, didn't get shorter, really.

I wish you all the best with your upcoming delivery! You're getting close now!