KG I had augmentation which is basically the same but I had already had early labour pains..... TBH I didn't think it was that bad, and in the end I thought it helped because it made the whole experience shorter.... only 6 hours from ARM to birth and I managed with only gas and had no tearing or stitches, and didn't need ventouse, forceps or cs. I think it helped because without it I would probably have been completely exhausted by the time she was born, I had been up since 3am with labour pain (she was born at 9pm).
If you're really keen you can read my birth story