The "aaahh" sound that Jas mentioned helped me to stay focused with DS and not lose it. I think it meant I was in control of the contractions.
Other things were stomping whilst leaning on a windowsill. I found an object (a blue office chair) to stare at in a window across the courtyard (well, until the stupid cleaner turned the light off!), once things got a bit unbearable, I hopped in the shower, where DH alternated the shower head between my front and my back, whilst I lent on the handles and stomped. I also blew the pain away down the plughole - this really seemed to help. But for me, movement was the biggie, no way was I sitting down.
Definitely the 'aaah' sound. Open jaw, open cervix. In any case, it was as if the noise coming out of my mouth was like releasing the pain through sound, itms. As if I were transferring it out of my body. Hot water on my back helped, leaning up against the wall and letting the water play on my back during contractions helped.
Mostly the second time it just helped to know that soon it would be over.
Re the pain relief, I agree with the birth plan idea... and M was right there to reiterate that I didn't want any pain relief; saying that, if I'd needed there were other options (pethedine, morphine) but I have a reaction to opiates (I vomit) so they weren't for me. Gas didn't seem to do anything, tried about 2 sucks with S and got nothing, so didn't even bother with T. If you want to try TENS, I've heard it's good - my mum uses it on her back - but start practising now so you can get used to using it.
Good luck. Remember above all that you can do this.
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