First Stage Labor with Multiple Pregnancies: What to Expect

Question
I am due to deliver my 4th child in a couple of weeks.  I was told that I am 1 cm dilated.  Do you think that this first stage will go any faster since I have had 3 others (all of which were born on their due dates or before) and the last was born just over 1 year ago?  I know nothing is
'set in stone' with this type of thing, but do you think all of these things could mean a faster early labor period?

Answer
It is possible.  Many women do have progressively faster and easier labors with each successive baby.  This is even more true if your baby is in the optimal, left occiput anterior (LOA, head down and back towards your left front) position.  One way to get an idea of what this labor may be like is to look at your previous labors and see if there is a pattern.  Have your last three labors gotten progressively shorter?  If so, then you could reasonably expect the pattern to continue with this baby.