Ash, I agree that you have done a great job and I agree that point form will get you a better result. You have done a great job of researching labour and birth and I am sure that will be a huge help. A pain relief free birth is possible, but you need to be sure you can do it. By that, I mean that when you are in the throes of contractions you will not be thinking clearly (or much at all!), so don't go in to the hossy thinking "I might need drugs I'll wait and see". That is the surest way to go off track. Go in there thinking "I can have a drug-free birth". I know you can do it hun. Ensure DH is clear on what you do and don't want, then go and have that minimal-intervention birth you want. GL.