I found the majority of dd's pain free. It was intensely physical, but the most painful parts were the transitioning times from prelabour to active, and then first to second stage. I think transition times are challenging because it's the times your consciousness changes. The first real contractions i thought 'i cant do this' but then found my groove. In the thick of beautiful labour endorphins I felt great, then when they started changing toward those pushing feelings, I remember gaining consciousness, and being focussed on bum pressure. The only really painful bit of second stage was crowning. I felt do much intense stretching, but it's like a few seconds and then suddenly you have a baby in your arms!

Ds was unusual- lots of short painful contractions and I never went to labour-land. It was easily manageable though because the contractions were so short and five mins apart.

I think anything that activates oxytocin helps with the pain. I rubbed a sheet over my bare breasts and kissed and hugged Dh lot. It was all instinctual, but the sexual connections really helped make it feel intensely physical, visceral but not painful iTMS? I remember thinking...this is just me, my body...there is nothing to fear.

Hth