Excellent thread Mel, I am reading with interest; I am NOT looking forward to my second labour AT ALL.

The lead up to my first labour was very chilled out, I did the calmbirth course & fully believed it wouldn't be "...that bad" because labour & birth is natural & we are meant to do it, but wow - was I in for a shock! There were times during labour that I did freak out - that same contraction thing, as soon as one was over instead of relaxing I would thing "God there will be another one... sooner... and longer...!" & got into a tiz. I was almost begging the MW for something, anything, but she was strong for me (glad somebody was lol) & encouraged me even though I probably thought I was dying...

Afterwards I told DP "NEVER AGAIN!". I said no way would I be doing THAT again, drug free, it was torture. Problem is, I still believe that drug free is best for me & the baby & can't willingly decide to be given any pain meds, no matter how much I wish that I thought an epi or other drugs would be okay, I don't, & that's that. I have pretty much been dreading labour since finding out I was PG, I am hoping that once it starts I remember not the pain, but the result, & that I am still alive, funnily enough.