Each birth is unique. I had different pregnancies and 3 very different births. Some labors are fast and intense, as was my 3rd labor and some are very long, drawn-out events perhaps lasting for several days from start to finish. Some moms make firm decisions ahead of time to have a medicated birth and to their dismay get to the hospital too late for any pain medication as their labor was quicker then they thought it would be. Other moms plan a homebirth and need to be transferred during labor as they needed the assistance of medical intervention and the skills of a physician who could offer a surgical birth.