I just think you've been fed to many horror stories about birth. Surround yourself in good birth stories etc. check out homebirth videos on YouTube to see how good birth can be. I myself loved giving birth.

Generally once birth is over the pain goes away, not that I reckon it's painful more uncomfortable would be the word I'd use. But if you have a C/S you have the recovery phase to look at, and not that I've had one but from what I've been told its incredibly painful and takes awhile to get back on your feet. I really thing they should be reserved for emergencies and necessity only.

I'd think very strongly about hiring a private midwife that could support you through this. Is it just the pain you are scared of? Or is it more than that. Fear has a funny way of taking over and making things out to be worse then they are. So you need to get on top of this, without avoiding the situation as such.