I was exactly the same first time around - wanted to go natural, maybe gas but that was it. Then we had a fabulous midwife for our antenatal classes who took us through an excercise about our birth plan. It would be quite lengthy to explain but we had to start out with laying out our perfect birth plan. Then she had us take away cards - in other words, she began to show us that we had to flexible and have plan b, c, d, e, etc and in the end, of the 18 cards, we had 6 left - these were what DH & I decided were our non-negotiable birth plan cards. I was so glad we did it because in the end I needed to be induced, had an epidural and they had to use a ventous to get DD out and she tore me to shreds!!!!! So a little bit left field of my 'perfect birth plan'!! ROFL!!!!

As every labour is different (even for the same mother), all I can encourage you to do is be informed of ALL your choices and be open to plan b, c, etc and know that even if your plan a doesn't happen, you haven't failed at all!! You are simply doing what is best for you and the baby!!!

And yes, it does hurt :eek: but picture pushing a watermelon thro a hole the size of a lemon!!! But once you're holding your little miracle, it just doesnt matter and you will forget the pain.......it must be true!!! I'm going for a second round!! LOL!!!!

Enjoy the journey lovey!!! It's a rush and the best!!!