Bexs,
Firstly, the moment you announce a pregnancy the first thing people want to do is rush in and tell you how horrendous labour is and it last for a WHOLE week, and I'll never be the same again, it's the worst in the world blah blah blah.
Secondly, it starts off as mild pains and builds, if you get to a point where you don't want to feel it anymore there is gas and air, pethidine, morphine (depending on the hospital policies) and for total relief an epidural (I ahd this with DS and slept the whole way through and they woke me to tell me to push, I didn't feel anything)
Thirdly, if you have a medication free delivery I personally did not find it that bad. With my DD there was no time, (second babies tend to be quicker) I had 3 contractions and then the urge to push. Yes they were sore, but I had to concentrate so hard on not pushing that pain was the least of my worries, I did not feel it, I was concentrating so hard on getting to the hospital. WHen the midwife said I could stop trying not to push and push it literally was the best feeling ever!! I've never been so relieved in my life and dd was born.
You are never going t hear the 'labour was ok, not too bad, had epi, no big deal' stories, you will hear the 'a friend, of a friends cousin....' stories that have been exaggerated x10
Plus if it was that bad, women would only do it once! why would we don it again and again
BUT MOST OF ALL DON'T GET HUNG UP ON THE DETAILS! just enjoy it 
