I didnt find it to be as bad as everyone makes out, but the trouble is, when u read birth stories, its the horror stories that stick with u. When i had my son, i was 3 days over my due date and i went to the doctors for a checkup, they said i had high blood pressure so they sent me 2 the hospital 2 b monitored, i was strapped 2 a monitor for about an hour and a half and then they told me i had 2 stay in over night to monitor me further as they said i was showing signs of pre-eclampsia, i was a bit upset as i didnt expect it at all. My mum brought my case 2 the hospital and i got settled in and went to sleep, at 1.15am, a nurse came in to do an internal, she said i was 6 cm dilated and i had 2 b taken 2 the high dependency unit 2 b put on a drip as i definitely had pre-eclampsia. The midwife wouldn't even let me have a drink...they broke my waters at 7.30 am and i have to honestly say, the contractions are the worst of it, i only had gas and air the whole way through which didnt really help with the pain, it onli helped me 2 keep breathing cos i kept holding my breath, but i dont know why lol, i started pushing at 12.04 pm and my son was born at 12.38pm, weighing in at 9lb 15oz, the midwife thought the scales were broken, she had 2 go and get another one 2 check haha i also had a 2nd degree tear and 20+ stitches but it really is worth it, u forget the hours u spent in pain when u hold ur baby, and u get such a buzz, u just wana do it again (i did anyways lol) and now i am, i cant wait to meet my little beanie, i know its a while off yet, but i'm soo excited to b pregnant again!! hope my story helps u, Good luck hun and Congrats xx