DD1s birth was 9 hours from first contraction to her being placed on my chest. it was, to me, totally exhausting! i found that it was about 5 hours too long hahaha. but then it was an overnight birth and i think that actually made it more tiring as i missed a night of sleep ITMS. contractions with her birth started a few hours after my waters broke, so they came on instantly fast and quite intense (2 minutes from the get-go). transition was really scary IMHO. but i was totally unsupported and didnt really know where I was at as no one was reminding me of the stages.

DD2s birth was only 1.5 hours of real labour. i had been having mild, intermittent BH with the occasional contraction throughout the day, but when my waters broke at 3pm then i INSTANTLY had the 'woooaaaahhh....i'm in LABOUR' moment. thankfully i had all my calmbirth training kick in and was able to keep present after the first big contraction and although the birth was super fast, it felt measured and paced and well, just right ITMS. my only regret is that it was so joyful and fun that i wish that it had of lasted a bit longer . even with it being so fast i was able to fully chat and laugh with the midwives in between contractions and during the pushing (or rather breathing out!) stage i just chatted with the midwives and the baby and DH. it all felt very relaxed even though that stage was only 9 minutes.

so all in all? I am super happy with thick and fast! that said, i wouldnt want to do it without total support and my calmbirth!!! but that would be the same for a long labour or a short one.

and, (i know, i am rambling!) what i really enjoyed about the thick and fast one was that i wasnt totally shagged afterwards. i had enough energy to really engage with the experience and just gaze and gaze at my new baby . i think it also really helped that she was born during the daylight hours...i would beg the universe to let that happen again!