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It is by no means pain free- but just the simple fact of refusing to be flat on your back for any part of your labor drastically and I mean DRASTICALLY reduces the pain. If you can spend part of your labor in water
That really helps- most hopsitals have a tub or a shower you can be in while you labor- it really helps a lot. Epidurals can be great- especially in cases where a woman really is exhausted or really can't cope with the pain. They can really help when a woman would otherwise become totally exhausted. But once that epidural needle goes in--- there is a whole snowball effect of things that are going to happen now. Your labor will very likely slow down. You will be confined to bed. You will have constant fetal monitoring. You will be given a catheter- since you can't get up to pee. You are more likely to have maternal fever- because you cannot dissipate the energy from your labor--possibly resulting antibiotics given to the baby after birth in the NICU. Because your labor has slowed- you are very likely to be given pitocin to get your labor going again- which gives unnaturally strong and long contractions- thus increasing the chances for fetal distress. With fetal distress you are far more likely to have an instument delivery or a c-section....both of which carry far higher maternal morbidity and mortality rates than an unassisted vaginal delivery....and makes the actual labor last longer? Of course, it woulnd't matter too terrible much since you wouldn't feel it. There are pros and cons to each side an everyone says it is my choice, but I don't know what choice to make!!!
Just a sort of funny anecdote-- my mom has said to me more than twice..."Oh Shan- I admire you-- I could never give birth naturally..." to which I replied "But you did mom, with me.....remember!???" She had me naturally because of how her labor panned out (it was the middle of the night at a rural hospital, and they couldn't find an enterance that was unlocked, and finally she said that before they did anything to her she HAD to go to the bathroom- guess where I was almost born
)- but she still thinks she could never have a baby naturally It cracks me up 
Now if you have to be induced all bets are off- because those contractions are crazy!!
I don't really view it as a "strong enough" kind of thing---but rather a "being really okay with being weak" kind of thing.
All I ever hear is how it helps to be prepared... like taking a natural birth class, reading a natural birth book.... something that helps you know what to expect... I think you're low on time so if you only have time for one chapter in one book I really like "Emotional Signposts in Labor" in Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way.... you don't even have to do the Bradley way to get something out of that chapter
Maybe you can go peek at a bookstore or library?
That is great! I will have hubby go by the bookstore today and see if we can find it. We are bringing the Gilmore Girls series for me to watch (Thanks Linnis!) so I know that will distract me, especially since I missed that entire season!!! Other than that, I really think the book will help. I am just nervous because I don't find out til the 21 how big he is, etc....and the dr. says I can have him anytime after the 16th. I just pray for no complications if he decides to come early. Well, I mean, I'm sure it wasn't a picnic as labor is hard work.... but big babies don't scare me. All I need to do is get that head out and the rest will slither by. There's a word picture for you.... lol.
My pain free pregnancy versus the painful one, I'm gonna choose pain free If you can do it, you are super woman for sure.
