My first and second were vastly different to one another, but both great births. My first was 12hrs long, contractions started just after 1am and were nice and gentle in a way - they were coming every 15 minutes. I was actually in hospital at the time because I'd had my show the day before in the morning and we went over to be assessed (eager 1st time parents thinking it was all going to happen LOL). Was checked at 6pm and found to be 2cm. DH went home then and I stayed as they were happy to keep me there (Temora). Then about 3 or 4am DH was called to come back as they were closer by then (around 8-10mins) and he had an hr to travel. Things just kept progressingly perfectly for a first birth. At about 11.30am I was taken from my room to the labour ward and I started pushing about noon. I had quite a decent break in between each contraction so I wasn't too tired. My midwife said that he would be born by around 1.30pm and she wasn't far off - he was born at 1.20pm after nearly 1.5hrs of pushing. he was one day before his due date.

My second was born in just under 8hrs and nearly on the toilet! Contractions started with her at about 10pm on her due date and were coming about every 5 mins and they were painful, but not the typical build-up/peak/ebb so by the time I got to hospital (this time we weren't mucking around - we were 1hr from hospital and they were already pretty close) at midnight they were *real* contractions and lasting for a good 2mins at a time. I wasn't examined till the shift change at 7.30 and was told I was only 6cm and that I also should go and try to empty my bowel as it was stopping her from coming down, so off to the toilet I went and by golly it's hard to go to the toilet while you're in labour. As soon as I was done she dropped onto the pelvic floor and I said to DH to go and get Irene because the baby was coming NOW! and he said oh you can't be ready to push, you were only 6cm 10 minutes ago. We quickly moved to the labour ward and by the time I got on the bed she was crowning. She was born about 10 minutes after that at 7.50am.