It's no news that childbirth is painful - its called labour for a reason. No matter how much you
prepare, it's something that you won't have full control over. However, you are able to choose methods that can minimise and control labour pain.
Many mum-to-be's understandably opt for a natural, drug-free form of pain relief during labour, as the thought of being injected with a series of drugs can be quite off-putting. Drugs, especially epidurals, can sometimes result in a prolonged second stage of labour, and increase the risk of having an instrumental delivery (with forceps or ventouse). Other drugs can also make it difficult to push, and if they are administered too close to birth, they can affect the baby's breathing.
Even if you choose to use medical pain relief, unforeseen circumstances may make it not possible, so it's best to have an alternative and know what...