Oh dean!
Shanda, I certainly didn't intend to scare you!
I'm so sorry -- I always hated those women who felt compelled to relate their grueling labor stories when I was pregnant with my first and not knowing what to expect! I certainly didn't mean to turn into one of them! My only intention was to suggest that you really can't know what to expect -- everyone told me that I would breeze through labor because I was so fit, and I was so disappointed when that was not the case for me -- just didn't want you to have the same experience. You are right that you really can't know what to expect, since there are so many variables involved.
And I should note that I didn't spend 35 and 13 hours respectively in "hard" labor -- in fact, with the first one, it took me most of the first day to even realize that the crampiness I was feeling was actually labor pains (duh). (I was induced the second time around, so I didn't have to guess.
). And of course, I chose to have an epidural both times, so it's not like I felt much of anything after that.
The good thing is that no matter how long it is, labor always does end, and at least the pain has a purpose. Once you're holding that little bundle, you really do forget all about what went before. Labor is just one relatively brief, necessary part of the larger goal. Keep your eyes on the prize and you'll be fine!