The birth will be glorious - dont stress. It was much easier for me second time.
I should say my pains for #1 were bad too, like really really nasty period pain everytime I fed. I had to feed with a wheatbag for about 3-4days.
But it was nothing compared to #2. Excrutiating. Every time I thought they were getting better I refused the pain relief, and then I would feed and OMG - the agony. I was in tears and couldn't talk.
So yeah - if you need the drugs - take them. Dont be a hero. You haven't got the hormones from thelabour process helping you as much in the days afterwards.