I just read through this thread & I think that every pregnant woman should read it!
I was pg with my first at 17.

First my OB tried to bully me into an induction. I had my check up 2 days before I was due & with no internal or any exam to really determine what was going on, he decided that nothing was happening & that'd I'd need an induction. He booked it for 2 days after I was due.
I'm really lucky that my mum was there to tell me it wasn't right, or I would've just done as I was told.
I rang my gp, who I trust, & asked him about it. He rang my OB, checked that there was no medical reason for the induction & assured me I was ok to keep going up to 2 weeks over due.

Then when labour started at 41+1 it was going ok, bu I had no idea what to expect, so I ws fighting the pain. Fighting the contractions. I ended up with gas & pethidine to relax me enough to let the labour happen.
There was also talk of a c/s. Thankfully my mum & MIL were there & they told the OB to see how I go for a bit longer.
Then I was told to push at 7cm. Baisically get bub out now or they were aking me for a ceaser. My labour was 18.5 hoursfrom waters breaking to irth, so IMO not overly prolonged.
Thankfully after about an hour of pushing my DD was born perfectly healthy.

With my second labour things were completely different.
I had about 20 hours of pre labour/latent phase.
I stayed at home for as long as possible & by the time I go to the hospital I was around 7cm dialated.
This time I was so different. I forced myself to relax from probably the chest down.
I kinda hummed through the contractions. It slowed my breathing down & kept me relaxed.
I pushed when I was ready. Had ARM about 10 minutes before she was born.

Of my 3 labours can honestly say that I look back on that one & feel so much happeir & relaxed.
It was an amazing labour. Still VERY painful, but I told my self I could handle the pain & I did.

My third was over from start to finish in 5 hours. I feel like it was too quick.
We had mecconium in my waters, so they wanted it to be as quick as possible, but for your body to go 0 - 10 in about 4.5 hours is very full on.
I ended up demanding pethidine during transition & getting it. Even though it didn't kick in til afer he was born.
It was good to have it over & done with, but now when I look back it was too quick.

I'm seriously considering becoming a doula when my children are older. I am fascinated with labour & child birth for some reason.