I'm another who sooks a lot when I have any sort of pain, I can have a man-cold better than most guys I think. But I was surprised at how effective my body was at labouring - all the hormones meant I was focussed, able to breathe through contractions, used warm water as pain relief, had great support. I always thought I'd be resisting the temptation for drugs (I really didn't want any except for maybe gas, since I'd researched the effects of these drugs and decided they weren't for me), but it never once occurred to me to ask for drugs in my first labour. Honestly!

So I wouldn't judge your ability to birth confidently and well on your every day pain threshold, because when you stub your toe you don't have all those amazing hormones running through your body, or a good support team.