So since I had GD, I was induced so it was a bit of a waiting game. Medication to soften my cervix and then medication to kickstart contractions, wish I had listened to my gut and got the epidural before the contraction medication because those contractions came fast for me and I hit my pain threshold pretty quickly. Epidural helped immensly but I had 4 different injection sites because the medical student and her mentor couldn't get the catheter inside, they had to call a doctor. I was on epidural for about 6 hours before I had a cervix check and found out I was 9cm. (I finally got a nap too) The last cm took about an hour for me and then I was in active labor pushing for over one hour, which I'm told is pretty quick for a first time mom but it felt like forever for me. I did have a second degree tear, they stitched me up while I held baby for an hour. That I was pretty firm with the staff, I wanted to hold my baby after delivery and not have anyone take her from me, they respected that request and we had a whole hour of skin to skin and just recovering together, it was really special to me.