I'm really relieved to read that you are going to give an unecessary induction a miss! I have had 2 plus 1 that started naturally but had to be "sped up" because I wasn't labouring as fast as they wanted me to Induced labours are incredibly risky and I know the pain factor is secondary but once you are hooked up to the awful drip (which is part of the course with an induced labour... ouch I HATE that needle that has to stay in your arm preventing you from getting comfortable) i too started to get pannicky... far more so than when I was left alone to labour without all the interventions. I figure that labour is going to painful rgardless... it's meant to be... but I would MUCH rather labour without people hovering all over me distracting me from getting into a good mental place. I think that is one thing hopspital staff seem to forget: a successful labour is a mental process too. Getting myself into the right frame of mind was the best form of pain relief and you can't do that if people are poking and prodding you and forcing you to remain in an uncomfortable position... or worst of all, forcing you sit still when the strongest urge is to move around!

Kelly (BellyBelly) suggestion to avoid the epidural is also very wise. They are also not without risk. Personally despite the pain I never seriously considered having one. Most medical people (including my nurse mother) agree that they are best avoided unless you need surgery. And you know, even though my 3 births were painful it WAS incredibly satisfying pushing out my own babies (well the 2nd two... my 1st bubba had to vacuumed out due to an overdose of syncotin)... the feeling of immense accomplishment is something I would NEVER want to have taken away from me. I swear it makes you feel like you can do anything!

Anyhow... I know that ultimately you will have to be flexible about these things... but I really think there is so much wisdom here in this thread. All the best with your labour and birth and don't let anyone tell you that intervention in inconsequential... or should be considered as a matter of "convenience". I can tell you now that it is also highly "convenient" to be able to get up and walk around 30 minutes after you have given birth and tend to the needs of your baby rather than having to lie in bed waiting for drugs to wear off or having to recover from unecessary intervention.