On the run up to birth I constantly reminded myself that my body was made to do this, and to cope with it! Pain relief is a modern invention, I reminded myself that hundreds of years ago women just did what they felt was right. I did a fair bit of meditation and visualisation to help relax me.

Basically I stayed active, went about my normal day. When the contractions were getting strong I started to hum while I had them which seemed to help me cope. When they were too intense to get up and walk about in between I straddled a dining chair and carried on for a few more hours. Midwife had advised to stay at home until I felt I NEEDED to go to to the birth centre, when I NEEDED the pool. I went in and was found to be 7cm and progressing fast, they were worried about not being able to fill the pool! I think just listening to your body is most important, if you fancy changing position for one contraction then go for it. Your body knows what it's doing and how to get the baby out, trust it! I was reclined in the pool and out of no where decided I needed to be on all fours, 2 contractions later I wanted to be reclined again. Baby had just started to crown, I really believe that that sudden urge was what brought baby down and helped her turn (she was back to back but crowned facing my back)

Accepting that it will hurt helped me too. I kept telling myself 'I know this hurts, but each one means I'm closer to meeting my baby' Also reminding myself 'no one ever died or even passed out from the pain, It's not that bad'

If you REALLY believe you can do it you can but also fear plays a huge part I think, make sure you're not scared. apprehensive, nervous, yes but not scared iygwim?

Have you come across Daisy Birthing? They use relaxation/yoga/hypnobirthing techniques.

http://www.thelazydaisychain.co.uk/

Their epidural rate is A LOT lower than the national average x

I was quite surprised with mine as thought I'd be asking for every drug going and in the end I had nothing and I was wired up to the bed as lo came a month early. I'd have loved to have had an active birth and hope to be able to next time but I just felt like i was blowing the pain away even though I couldn't move much. I just sort of zoned out in to my own world when I had a contraction and imagined I was blowing the pain out of my mouth, I hope you have a brilliant labour xxx

For me the key was staying active and controlling my own labour. I knew what I wanted and that I could do it, and I took it one contraction at a time. My waters broke at the start of labour with each, so I didn't have much build-up; contractions were intense from the beginning.

I definitely felt pain, but it was nowhere near to being unbearable. It felt good to know that I was working with the birth process instead of fighting against it, and much stronger than the pain was the excitement that I was finally about to meet this new little person for the first time.