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Quoting Squid Kid:" Oh it hurts like all hell broke loose if you lay on your back during a contraction!"

I was on my back for my whole labor with DD, I didn't want pain killers, than they gave me Pitocin, and everything went downhill from there. My labor was 32 hours!
I decided I was going to do everything I could to avoid a repeat.

I power walked through most of my contractions.

I've had three natural births. Laboring in the tub is wonderful. It was excellent pain relief. Find something to focus on and breathe. Transition is the hardest part but doesn't last long at all. Tell them up front not to offer you pain medication, you will ask for it if you want it. Do what feels good and most comfortable during labor and delivery. The position of the baby can make a difference in what feels most comfortable. Trust your body to do the work and stay as relaxed as you can. Tensing up and fighting it works against your body. Relaxing lets your labor progress faster and hurts less. Good luck!  

I totally planned on having an epidural, but ended up having a completely natural labor and delivery without any assistance (through labor that is). It was defintely hard, but just try to find a position that's right for you. Just remember, each contraction is another step closer to meeting your little one!   I felt like freaking superwoman once she was born.

Quoting Finally #2:" I have been looking into this actually. Im strongly thinking about it, but Im concerned about how much it might cost."

They can be a bit expensive. Try looking around for a doula in training.   They have to attend so many births to get certified and it usually costs nothing.

Also, read the right kind of books! I strongly recommend anything by Ina May Gaskin. I love her.

Breathing is important. Don't hold your breath when you get a contraction. It tenses your body. Do whatever position helps you. Don't let anyone force you to do anything that isn't comfortable. Be firm up front about them offering you meds.

I like the doula suggestions, considering I am a doula ;) I also like the suggestions about not laying on your back, typically being in a squatting position (on a birthing ball or kinda hanging from a bar or something) through a contraction is going to help a lot not to mention gravity is a good thing when trying to bring your baby down the birth canal. Also if you have access to water utilize it. It can help you relax since relaxing as much as possible through your contractions will help you progress. You CAN do this, trust your body! Avoid shows like a baby story and read books like Ina mays guide to child birth and check out blogs like birth without fear  

This is great advice, Im starting to worry a little less!

Lily its too late LOL Ive already watched a baby story thats kind of why I started the thread LOL, I was watching a woman who wanted to go natural and she was screaming, and saying it hurts, and crying, I was like Oh God maybe I cant do this   But I literally just gave my doc my birth plan, so Im trying to talk myself into going through with that choice.

Quoting Finally #2:" This is great advice, Im starting to worry a little less! Lily its too late LOL Ive already watched ... [snip!] ... do this   But I literally just gave my doc my birth plan, so Im trying to talk myself into going through with that choice."

I love those shows but my experiences were totally different from anything you see on there. I also see many of them have interventions in the beginning of labor that probably lead to a higher probability of wanting pain medication. Those shows aren't realistic at all IMO.

There are some great natural birth videos online. Water births and hypno births are amazing to watch. Read up on different ways to deal with labor so that you have options to choose from if something isn't working for you. I think some women want to do it but get pain medication because they never learned any effective coping strategies before they went into labor.

Quoting Crystal Mom of 4:" I love those shows but my experiences were totally different from anything you see on there. I also ... [snip!] ... want to do it but get pain medication because they never learned any effective coping strategies before they went into labor."

Im laboring at home as long as I can, and I'm prepared to try several methods to find out what works for me. So far I am going to get a birthing ball, try warm shower's or bath,walking. I know to breath through the contractions ( hoping I remember that one).
I've been google-ing to try and find better videos of natural birth, found one I thought was great, a home birth where baby was breech, came out butt first it was AMAZING!

my first 2 I had pain relief free

1st in bath and 2nd on bed. (induced)

I wont BS you and say it was a wonderful experience cause well it wasn't it hurt (well der you don't say, some people will be thinking LOL).....I was happy I did it without pain relief though......however having said that don't by any means think I'm wonder woman LOL as my labours were short my first was 3hrs 45 minutes (from when my waters broke) bad contractions the whole time
and my second I was induced, they broke my waters then gave me drip to hurry me along, I was in labour for either abt 3hrs 25 minutes or 3hrs 55 minutes, I cant remember if they broke them at 6 or 6:30, BUT I was only in bad pain for the last 20 minutes.

I wanted to have another water birth with my 2nd but as I was induced I couldn't, when they thought they were just breaking my waters they said I could go in the shower. But then when they broke my waters I had mecconium (sp?) staining and bub had to have thing stuck to her head and be monitored the whole time and they would not let me off the bed.........totally NOT HAPPY!!!!! But I survived :-) Pain wise the 2nd labour was heaps better even though I was induced via ARM and drip however for some reason I preferred the first, I think cause I was allowed to do what I want and wasn't restricted to laying on a bed.

Quoting Finally #2:" This is great advice, Im starting to worry a little less! Lily its too late LOL Ive already watched ... [snip!] ... do this   But I literally just gave my doc my birth plan, so Im trying to talk myself into going through with that choice."

Transition hurts the most. I never screamed though, but I did cry a little and say it hurt. The worst part was the nausea, but I got a salene solution and it went away.