Another point of view just to show how different we all are: for me the pain was very bad but manageable, but I just want to say that even when labour is not posterior (mine wasn't - i didnt have any back pain at all and bubs came out the "right" way), there is not ALWAYS a break between contractions. For me it was like extremely painful period pain - which peaked and then diminished a little, then peaked, and then diminished a little...however, I never felt painfree...and i felt totally ripped off about that!! I kept saying to my partner...where is the f**n break between contractions??!!
But I did only have a 3 and 1/2 hour labour, so cant complain too much!