My second was fast. I woke at 6, waters broke and contractions were long and close together from the beginning. I was still able to breathe through them though, I was in the bath until pushing, and it wasn't until transition and pushing that I lost it a bit, started crying and saying I couldn't do it. Even then it was just during contractions though, I was fine in between. DS was born less than 3 hours later at 8:50am.

Afterwards, I felt incredible. It was such a rush to have gotten through that, my body did it on it's own, and here was my gorgeous boy in my arms. I felt so empowered and so much love for my DH and midwife for their incredible support. It was fast and intense but I liked it so much more than DD's birth which had too much monitoring, interference and fentanyl.

FWIW, I think it's completely normal to just take each contraction as it comes and let instinct take over - birth is a primal and instinctual thing, to me. I yelled during mine. I cried to DH telling him I was sorry I was so bad at having a baby, that I didn't want to anymore. But no matter what I was saying, at the same time my body was instinctually moving wear it needed to help my baby down and out. My contractions hurt, and I can't imagine feeling calm and empowered during that time, though I know it happens for others. For me the feeling comes after. In the aftermath of it all I can reflect and think wow, that was awesome. I am awesome.