in my experience no! ds1, i was in labour all up about 18 hours, because it was my first, they were asking me if my water had broken and if id had a show, i had no idea what it was ment to be like, so constantly replyed i dont know, because we lived an hour drive from the hospital, i was told to wait untill i was ready to come in. the contractions built up slowly and gradualy, i was going threw the young womens in clayton, they were very relaxed and calmly explained everything to me made sure i had enough gas and was comfortable. i was in the hospital for 6 hours befor he arrived (also my first ever hospital trip since i was 5!
ds2, i didnt find easyer at all!! my waters broke at 6:30 am, rang the hospital, this time we were 20 mins away from them(diffrent hospital) they realy wanted me to go in, as i didnt have contractions, i felt i was prety much ok, so they advised me the minute they start to go in and be checked out, didnt have contractions all day, witch was good as i HAD a roast i NEEDED to cook and eat that night!! by the time i got the first contraction, it was 7 pm, as it was 3 weeks befor my due date, i packed my hospital bags while dinner was on. at the hospital they were very ****ed off with me, going on about this and that, making me feel like a bad mother, my contractions still wernt strong, so they whacked me on a drip, a old lady was trying to force me to go to the toilet every 5 minutes, told me once my contractions started i was not to yell or push untill SHE instructed me to, to witch i told her to go to hell. once they did start, they uped the drip so much that there was no room to recoup after each one, the gas was on the lowes possible setting, the last 2 hours were a blurr, but he was rushed out so fast, he was breathing realy fast from the stress and they immediatly put him in icu as he most likely has breathing problems, 5 hours later he was brought to mke in the ward, with big appologies, all that was wrong was he needed to catch his breath, he was fine by the time he arrived in icu (or whatever it is they call the babies one) andwas twice the size of the other babies up there.
dd was only 3 hours, but much worse!! waters broke, by the time mum rocked up with the car, she had to call the ambulance, the contractions started and were nit even 3 mins apart, within half hour she was born just making it from the couch to the ambulance, only pain relife was a hot water bottle and the green stick from the ambo. after pains with her were realy bad. had shocking back pain with all 3.
for some silly reason im going back a 4th time......