My first labour contractions started at five minutes apart and quickly came to two minutes apart and lasting for a minute. I did all the 'right' things, eg walked, stayed upright etc and then 15 hours later was still only 3cm and absolutely exhausted. They gave me an epidural and the drip to speed things up and 3 hours later when they came to check the baby had started crowning (ie my body was delivering the baby by itself as I lay on my side resting, numb from the waist down). When I started to push she went into distress and I ended up having ventousse and an episiotomy.

My second time around my waters broke at 38 weeks. After having contractions 20 minutes apart for 36 hours they decided to give me the drip to bring on 'proper' labour to deliver baby and prevent infection. As soon as the drip went in the contractions were very strong, but no stronger than with my first. My son was born 3 hours after the drip started and I recovered so much quicker having a shorter labour. I was never exhausted and managed with the gas for the last 30 minutes.

Given the same circumstances I would do this again (the drip) as I felt that my long intense labour with my first was so exhausting I took ages to recover, and I feel it also stressed the baby. The quick labour was intense but not more so than the first. Hopefully though this time my body can do it all by itself!