Congratulations hun. That is great news.

The first step is to stop being scared about the pain being too much. It isn't too much. It is pain, sure, but it is manageable and you can cope. I think for most of us, the fear of the pain is actually worse than the pain itself. Knowing that each contraction comes and goes can help. If you can focus through one, you can focus through the next. The crack on the bath is a great anecdote. For me it was the breathing. Concentrating on breathing in until the peak, and then out, kept me focused.

I highly recommend that you read New Active Birth by Janet Balaskas. This helped me to have a great birth second time around. It talks about how keeping active during labour (as opposed to lying on your back which is the absolute worst thing you can do - it slows things down and also contractions hurt way more!!) really helps the process, and also about positions and breathing to speed labour up, and help you get through it.

I really hope you have the drug-free birth you are hoping for. I can tell you from my experience of having one of each, that you will feel a million times better after a natural birth than if you have drugs. And you will recover much more quickly. It is so worth it to resist the fear, and the temptation of pain relief. Best of luck hun.