mine felt a bit like period cramps.

det - you should be the person to ask because birth shouldnt be painful for most people. Muscles contract and relax all the time in our body, these ones we're just not used to the feeling and are often led to believe will be excruciatingly painful when in fact its not like that for everyone.
And if it can be not painful for you, then surely it can be not painful for others. I remember mine was being painful but i think the fact I losr complete focus and some other factors surroundng my birth with DS layed a part in that as well.