Ryn I went drug free with my ds and it was the most wonderful, empowering moment in my life. It is certainly possible if you are prepared and aware of your options. In my birth plan I had a list of steps 1 try and go drug free, 2. try min air/gas 3. if induced may ask for an epidural.
I had to be induced and had my waters broken, at first they had me lying on this stupid table hooked up to a lot of machines, when my first contraction came it hurt like h@##. Then as I waited for the next one I got so tense thinking "no, I don't want another one to come" That one hurt more than the first. That was when all my reading and knowledge stepped in. I got off the bed and walked and swayed. Went to the loo (got the machines taken off still had the drip) then I could really get into labour.

What nobody told me was that labour is about hard work not about pain. If you understand why it is hurting (muscles contrcting and pulling up on your cervix to dilate) you can let your body do it's thing. I found myself having complete trust in my body and just going to a really primeval place where labour was the whole focus.

Sorry this has turned into such a novel but I just hope that every woman can have such an amazing birth experience. It is truly amazing what your body is capable of if you just let it do what it needs to do.

In short read Active birth, learn about different positions, listen to your midwives and the most important set of questions "Do I have to have it now? What will happen if I wait 5 or 10 minutes?