I haven't done a natural birth yet, but I'm sure hoping it will be different. As I understand it, the intensity of contractions is much greater on syntocin, and the absence of endorphins (released with natural oxytocins) and absence of a build-up in labour compound this effect. The other complicating factor with a lot of inductions is that because of the greater risk to you and baby, they have to monitor you a lot more carefully, which reduces your mobility and ability to cope.
Every birth experience is different though, so there's really no telling what it will be like this time round. I feel sure it will be better, if only because I will have more freedom to do what I need to through labour.
I've only had 3 natural births - although the first they came in every few hours and muttered
If you are allowed to move you end up finding a position or rocking or pointing a shower at you or being rubbed or just ANYTHING that hurts less, and being able to choose your own position is nice. I guess that is the 'empowering' bit the natural birth activists keep harping on about. I may have been young and utterly uneducated at my first birth but I got the birthing ball, bath, beanbag etc despite not knowing they were even options and walked out of there with the baby afterwards so it can't have been *that* bad.
It's funny you both say that because besides the odd "check" of my cervix, I was encouraged to labour in the shower, bath, however and wherever I thought might help. I was in the bath for awhile but the last hour or so all I wanted to do was half lie down on the bed and thought there's no way I can possibly move!!!