I just wanted to throw in here- there is no shame in pain. Experiencing pain during birth is seen as the norm across many cultures, ages and demographics, and some see it as a rite of passage.

For Ali, and all the other girls who will soon give birth, even if you have done all the prep in the world, you may still feel pain and you may still need intervention. Doesn't mean you've failed, or you didn't try hard enough or breath deep enough.

For many many women, birth is just painful. That is a very common thing and not neccessarily something that will make you feel disappointed, incomplete, sad or traumitised. Pain- or lack of it- doesn't neccessarily mean your birth experience is any worse or better than anyone else's. Just different, in the same way all our birth experiences are different.