I've had 3 fairly quick labours and never had pain relief with any of mine, I didn't really need it and I don't really like the floaty out of control feeling of drugs.
I like to be able to pace up down and generally keep moving.
Did use a tens machine and then once I get to a a certain level were I can't really keep on my feet ( I've always had this strong urge to kneel/ go on all fours) so probably close to pushing I go in the pool.
I went in the pool with all of mine which the relaxation of the pool then always seems to jump me forward in dilation so I'm usually actively pushing 5 mins after getting in.
I did home birth with number 3 seven and a bit years ago, my labours seem to ramp up quickly from oh I think this might be it to very active quickly, with number 1 & 2 I had midwives say oh you'll be a while yet then boom I'm pushing.
I was encouraged to not come in with no 2 glad I did as I would have been at the side of the road
No 1, was about three hours active labour. Kept encouraging me to go home, by the time they took me down to the labour rooms I was pushing as we walked down the corridor.
No 2, was an hour maybe hour half, half an hour of which I was travelling to the hospital, then probably 20/30 mins before I was admitted.
No 3, was very quick I had a lot of very strong Braxton Hicks for weeks, that were often regularly spaced out and went on for hours, by time I realised it was labour it was less than an hour maybe 45 mins.
Had him in the pool, had to call paramedics as started pushing before the midwife arrived she only made it for the final push.
Still made the paramedics day they had never seen labour and they cried.
Was so great to be at home I'm always wired afterwards and can never rest when in hospital but I managed to at home.
Plus I potentially wouldn't have made it to the hospital in time as I really wasn't sure I was in active labour until I really really was if that makes sense. I'd had quite a few false starts for weeks with the Braxton Hicks.