DS1 was slow & steady with lots of back labour. 21 hours from start to finish, but a slow build up with ctx every 7 minutes from midnight, getting closer and closer. Everything ramped up from about 1:30pm. I didn't recognise transition and still don't know when that kicked in. On my hospy notes, it have labour as 5hours, including 1hr 15min to push out bub and 30min for the placenta. I felt in control for most of the time and was able to get things moving along myself.

That was my only spontaneous labour. The induction with DS2 took under 8 hours but that was a whole different ballgame altogether.

I think 8-12 hours is enough. Time warps in labour - you dont realise the time, but you feel the exhaustion. I'm a control freak and think a short, fast labour would scare the hell out of me. Is it difficult to stay present in a short, fast labour?