Hi, I have had 3 posterior bubs 1 VB the other 2 CS failure to progress..My waters tend to break and then labour does'nt really get started, needing induction. With my first DD induction was successfull, labour was very intense with all the pain in my back, no contraction felt in my tummy!!I went through that labour without pain relief mainly because I was scared that I might end up sick on top of the pain. I stayed upright, funnily enough instinctivly did a lot of the thing s Trillian was talking about, sat on the toilet, spread my legs shouldr width apart and walked.. shower, heat packs, massage were ineffective and painful, I could'nt stand my back touched..They had big coat hooks in the wall, that I would pull on during contractions to draw some pain away or to somewhere else..Pushing stage lasted about 3.5hours.. not fun..In the end I needed help, I was exhausted and baby was getting distresssed, so onto the bed (screaming with each contraction at one stage I asked one of the middies if she could put her hands under my back, only to scream at her to take them out then appologised profusely) vac was tried it popped off and then forceps did the trick, but very painful, no baby slidding out etc she was dragged and turned, (stick in your finger in your hand hold it as tight as you can then twist, feel the skin twist...now imagine thats your fanny.lol got the picture)
I would honestly say try want you want and go drug free, but pain does'nt make for a wonderful birth and if it gets too much try the gas first, with my 3rd I had an epi after labouring to about 6cm with huge back pain, my goodness what a relief, got to love an epi (says the anti pain relief girl) unfotunately she did'nt progress past 8cm she was stuck with a big grove around her head to prove it ended up 9pound 10 so no wonder.
Best of luck to you!!! You sound very prepared and good on you for doing research, I hope bubs turns and lets youhave a wonderful birth experience