nickers, what state are you in? Unfortunately I find hospital ante-natal classes pretty usless for those wanting to work with pain. They tell you about birth and pain relief options but no strategies for coping with pain.

Have you thought about a birth support person? Or if you are in Melbourne, check out Rhea Dempsey's (Birth Educator, Birth Attendant of over 26 years) workshop which is for working with pain - I recommend it to every woman and the workshop is stacks better than the ante-natal classes you'll get.