Jess - I have done this 5 times before and I would be lying if I said I was completely at ease about going into labour. I'm not. It still scares me. Aren't I just a pillar of strength and comfort? Granted - I don't think it is as bad as it was the first time around. I have even had my moments this time where I wanted to change my mind though. Although - I may be more frightened of the needle than the labour. I get anxious just sitting in the waiting room at the doctors office worrying if I am going to have to have a needle.

What I can tell you is this. The pain is purely physical. I have never been left feeling emotionally or mentally 'upset' about natural labour pains. The majority of my recoveries have been a breeze - only the canula has ever given me issues with baby - but that was with Haz because they stuck a bloody straw in my arm and I couldnt bend my wrist. With Lyta I couldnt get off the bed for the first 24 hours because of a catheta (put in to drain my bladder because of the pph) so that impeded me as well. Had to keep buzzing the nurses to get her out of the crib for me and they changed all her nappies and had to change her clothes. I did feel a little ripped off.

Okay - so maybe a good pattern you can take from mine is - the less the staff do during labour, the easier it is afterwards, lol.

rambling - sick. Hope there is something helpful in all this gibberish.