Wow, I'm trying to remember now.. Baby brains hit me early this time round!
My first felt like the longest labour in the world.. Induction.. was a good 18 hours or so.. Pushing for ages... Was hellish!
My second was a home birth - woke at 5am, with niggly contractions and a show.. Didnt start contracting properly til around what? 9am I guess.. Baby was born at 12.. so only a few hours really. Not long pushing either.. Was a freely moving birth, that one, gravity was my friend
Third was.. errm... thinking... long! Well, niggly-pain long. In and out of the hospital long. Not actually long, once it got going. Had a few arguments with the midwife about how far along I was - turns out I was right! Lasted in total about 3/4ish hours? Again, pushing was short too.
Fourth - he was lovely and easy! Early, niggly pains for a good few hours then real labour set in for maybe 4ish hours again. I think mental attitude is very important! Pushing was short and he was a lil one in comparison to my girl so I was very happy!
Fifth - Exactly the same as number 4 - A bit shorter, but not by much. Niggly pains didnt last as long (I forget what its called - the bit before you start dilating proper) And I stayed at home for about 2 and a half hours. Went to hospital and she was born about three quarters of an hour later.. Quicker but not by much. Her cheeks got stuck while I was pushing which my hubby and the midwife found amusing.. presumably cos they weren't suffering the ring of fire!
I think bodies just decide to do what they want to. But that a natural pattern is formed for your own body.. After all, it knows exactly what its doing.. we're just faffing around
