Not an answer to any of your questions, but just wanted to say I laboured and birthed an OP first time around, and was worried that would be the case second time. It seemed to start of that way (SROM, nothing for a while, back pain) but I don't know if it was the many stairs I walked trying to kick start thing, or labouring standing up, leaning on the windowsill, but DS birth was totally different-much easier and much shorter.

Good luck, hope all goes well for you.