The birth tub was wonderful.  We set it up in
the living room and I spent most of my active labour
in the tub.  Much to my surprise I was almost
totally silent and entirely calm through out.  I
listened to my CD over and over again.  The
familiar, calm voice was very soothing.  

I must admit I did not  'breath my baby down'  but
pushed for all I was worth (no regrets there). 

About 2/3 of the way through active labour they
offered to break my water and I agreed.  The
membrane was very full and pressing hard on my lower belly which wasn't allowing me to get a break
between contractions. Breaking the membrane really helped.

  
I have to say I much preferred the intense
pushing stage to the longer, more ambiguous active
stage.   That part is  tiring and progresses much
slower.  

The pushing is intense to say the least but there
is nothing like the feeling of having that baby come
out.  Disbelief, elation, relief, amazement....

For me I really focused on the part of the CD
where it says 'each surge brings my baby closer to
me'.  I was getting pretty tired and uncomfortable
being pregnant at the end that I was completely
looking forward to contractions and 'getting this
show on the road' 
    
Paul and Sandra are right. (See their advice below.) Sleep through the early stage as much as possible.  Ryan and I timed for a few hours.  We got to 3-4 minutes apart at about 2 am and then as we had the phone in hand they went back up to 8 min.  I sent Ryan to bed figuring  it would be best for one of us to get as much sleep as possible.  I continued timing and cat napping
through out the night.  I didn't really sleep but I
rested as much as possible through moderate
strength, early surges.  I woke Ryan sometime in the
early'ish' morning ( not sure when)  I called the
midwife around 6:30 am to let her know that things
were progressing.  She checked in again at 8am and
again around 10:30 am by phone and came over around noon.  I was 6cm by the time she arrived.  She
stayed with us the rest of the way.  I was 10 cm by
about 4:30 and then the fun really began.  My 2nd
midwife showed up around 5 and Greta was born at
6:30 pm. 
    
As for my labour signs....My contractions never
got regular.  They would begin to establish a
rhythm, then slow way down for a while,  then build
again, etc...  I had some mucus but no significant show and I could talk through my contraction right up to the very last stage. The funny thing is the part I found most intense was whenever they checked my cervix.  The surges were manageable but I found any touch to my cervix hard to bear.

We let the cord stop pulsing which took quite a
while, and let the placenta come out on its own.  I
did not need any needles. Baby did receive the
vitamin k shot and eye cream about an hour or more
after she was born.  Besides a slight squawk she
went right back to sleep. 

And my little over achiever pooped 9 times in the
first 20 hours!...."
    
Janet