Check out how this mama coped with contractions! Whew! Most of it is in French, but the few English sentences are so powerful and beautiful:

Dailymotion - Naitre_enchantee - a Vie pratique video

The things that are going to enhance the release of your endorphins are going to help the contractions be more manageable. Such as:
* dark, quiet room
* relaxation
* rhythmical movement, rocking, swaying, stepping, breathing
* warmth
* no disturbance or interuptions
* allowing yourself to drift away with the surging hormones
* massage
* water
* staying well hydrated and fed with nourishing food

I remember one birth i supported, when I arrived the mama was kneeling on her bedroom floor and she was already having a hard time with the pain and feeling gah I can't do this, get me to hospital! I knew if we went so soon it would set her up for intervention and I knew she did not really want that. So ... what could we do to help her get through?

I talked to her and suggested she try getting up and moving, I said, it won't hurt *more* if you move. She ended up pacing up and down her house like a caged tiger, holding a wheat pack one in front and one behind. That rhythmical pacing seemed to help her much more than being stuck still in one position. When that stopped helping, she went in the shower with her dh, and that worked for her for about half an hour (until the water ran out!) I was amazed how she went from really being stuck and 'over it', to ebing able to labour at home nearly another 4 hours before we left for the hospital. She was 10 cm when she arrived at the hospital!!

One more tip, I think Labour Ade is worth a try, because the calcium in it is supposed to help with pain management, and also when you're dehydrated you cope less well - when your fluid & electrolyte balance is good seems like you cope better.

If you plan to labour at home, I think a birth pool or deep spa or bath is a huge help.