AIMS: This study aimed to analyse and describe women's different perceptions and experiences of childbirth following prolonged or normal labour. BACKGROUND: In clinical practice prolonged labour, or dystocia, is a common delivery complication often causing a negative birth experience. METHOD: Women giving singleton live birth to their first child with spontaneous labour after more than 37 completed weeks' pregnancy at three hospitals in northern Sweden were recruited to a case-referent study. Cases (n = 84) were women following a prolonged labour with assisted vaginal or abdominal delivery, and referents (n = 171) delivered following a normal labour. Participants completed a questionnaire that investigated childbirth experiences, previous family relationships and childhood experiences. RESULTS: Women with prolonged labour had a negative childbirth experience more often (34%) than did women who had a normal labour (4%) (P < 0.05). Cases agreed significantly more than the referents with the statement, 'Pain relief during the delivery saved me' (OR 4.5, 95% CI: 1.9-11.1) and 'My difficulties during the delivery will mark me for life' (OR 12.4, 95% CI: 4.4-35.9). There were no differences between the cases and referents regarding perceived experience of professional or social support. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: To improve care, midwives and doctors can alleviate pain and relieve the negativity and difficulty associated with the experience of prolonged labour from the perspective of the woman giving birth.