I just want to say something. I wish someone said it to me before I had my first.
OK, it does hurt. Especially if you aren't prepared.
You need to remember to relax. Its hard, but you have to let your body do what it needs to do.
I was scared when I had DD1 & started trying to fight the pain. It slowed my labour right down til it almost stopped after 5 minute part contractions.
They gave me pethidine & in the end I did get through it without a ceaser. They were talking about it.

After I had DD1 my view on birth was feeling like you are being torn apart inside.

Now I've had 2 more my oppinion has completely changed. With DD2 I worked with my body. It was still painful (for me), but I got through it alot easier.
DD2's birth is the one I feel was the most amazing. It was drug free. I had 20 hours of pre labour, which I walked around town with, then about 9 hours of actual labour.
I hung at home til I thought I needed something for the pain, but when I found out I was already 7cm, I was so proud of myself that I didn't have anything for the pain except one breath of gas when I had to stop pushing for a bit.

DS's labour I feel was too fast & intense. It was over in 5 hours from start to finish. No prelabour, no warning. At all.
I did demand pethidine in transition, which I got, but it didn't start working til after he was born. It wasn't too hard on my body or anything, it was the mental part of it.
I don't know why, but my brain just couldn't comprehend that it was all over already.

It is hard work, but you have to tell yourself you can do it. Its hard, but make sure you relax through the contractions. In my mind with DD2 I was actually telling the bottom half of my body to relax.
When you get there & it does hurt, don't be scared of the pain. It IS normal.
Don't fight it. Let you body do what it was made to do.

Please don't be scared. You can do it. Just remember that.