I know there are alot of people who have responded, but I will still give a brief run down of what labour was like for me.
I started pre-labour on Thursday night from about 9.30pm until 3.30am the next day. Contractions were about 20 mins apart and I could easily breathe through them. During the day (Friday) I had no further contractions, just period like pain and blood stained mucus. Pre-labour started again on early Saturday morning, approx 1.00am and DH ended up timing them to be approx 6 mins apart, could breathe through them, called the hospital and they told me to come in. Got to hospital they got further apart, was told best to go home but come back at 8am for OBS to do an internal - cervix was still closed and again to come back at 2pm or earlier if contractions got closer together (they didn't) Went back home to rest as I hadn't had much sleep b/c excited about the possibility of having my baby and also couldn't sleep during contractions. Was continuously having period like pain but the contractions had pretty much stopped again! They started again early Sunday morning, with me doing laps around our kitchen and stopped to breathe through the contractions, which were irregular, anywhere from 6 mins to 2 mins apart. Went back to hospital and they gave me a sleeping tablet, which did nothing. I couldn't lie in bed as the contractions felt more intense when lying down and ended up trying to rest in the chair to no avail. Eventually I hopped in the bath and rocked through the contractions. OBS come in 8am did an internal, whole 1cm dialated and gave me 3 options, 1 go home continue to pre-labour, induction or c-sect. Chose the induction as I was so tired from pre-labour, lack of sleep etc.... Didn't start 'proper' labour until 10.30am - contractions 2 mins apart or 5 contractions every 10 mins. Some I could breathe through, others I couldn't and was bellowing like a cow, trying to breathe but most of the time I was holding my breath. Had intense back pain (I still have the pain when I bass a bowel motion - albeit not as intense), couldn't stand through my contractions as I had pain going down my thighs and felt like I was going to fall over. Also b/c I was induced I had to be monitored the whole time, so I was pretty much stuck on the bed. I had my DH and sister in the room, which was great, although they really couldn't do much for me, just be there, give me a cold face washer, rub my back. Ended up begging to hop in the shower, which they agreed to but only for a short time. I enjoyed being in the shower, warm water on my back but didn't reduce the pain. Had some gas, which didn't do much, other than taking the focus off the contractions and back pain as it rattles when you breathe it in. Had an epidural at approx. 2.30pm and felt great, just could feel pressure in my stomach during contractions. Labour didn't progress much more, I only got to 6 cms and ended up having a c-sect, so I can't comment on the pushing part. HTH