Well done on becoming a mummy.
No one can reà lly honestly prepare us for the pains associated with being in labour, as each of us has a different pain threshold and different ways to cope when in that much pain.
In my own case with my so far only child, I was told at several antenatal classes that the time spent in labour is usually a lot longer for the first child.
This is because our bodies are not used to giving birth and it is a new and horrible experience that we are putting our bodies through.
They claim that the second and third babies are easier, as our bodies are more used to giving birth.
In my delivery case, I woke up during the early hours of the expected delivery date at about 4.30 am, had a plate of toast and a mug of tea whilst monitoring the contractions.
By 6.30 the contractions were less than two minutes apart and the ambulance was outside the front door.
I nearly gave birth in the ambulance and was transferred immediately straight to a delivery suite, on arrival at the hospital.
My waters had already broken and the nursing team had got the Dr involved very rapidly.
My Son was not waiting around for hours and arrived at 9.06am, that same morning, after a natural birth and very little pain relief.