I think this is a fantastic thread because it shows how very individual everyone's birth- and everyones defintion of pain and fear- is.

I have found that very few women ever talk about all birth, the gory bits or the good bits. Talking about it like this- in an open, honest way, where everyone's opinions should be respected, and people can tell the truth- surely that has to be a good thing. Personally, I think that lifting the veil of mystery and silence on birth is a fantastic way to empower women, and have them thinking about what they want out of their birth experience and how to get that to happen.

Opening the lines of honest communication is a good thing for all concernced- we need to know that many other women have been through this, they came through it just fine, and for many it was an uplifiting, powerful experience.

Thanks for starting this thread Ali As I said earlier- knowledge is power. Good on you for wanting to know