Charity Jack:
I think I am more afraid of the idea of being numb and unable to control my body than I am of the pain. I am really close to my due/guess date and wishing there was a better alternative to epidurals or narcotics. I don't really have a question. I was just looking around. In the end, I am sure that the pain as a memory would be much better than all the other things that are seemingly unnecessary.

Henci Goer:
There are many effective ways of coping with labor pain that don't involve drugs, and because they don't, you don't run the risk of experiencing the adverse effects of narcotics and regional analgesia. Childbirth Connection has an excellent section on labor pain at http://childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ClickedLink=262&ck=10191&area=27. You will also learn comfort measures and other strategies from a good set of childbirth preparation classes. You can find a Lamaze class at http://www.lamaze.org/default.aspx?tabid=62. Ideally, you want an independent class, not one sponsored by a hospital, with no more than 10 couples to allow for individualized learning. I also strongly recommend hiring a doula. Doulas "mother the mother" by providing emotional and physical labor support and helping the couple advocate for themselves. You can find out more about doulas, including how to choose one, at http://dona.org/. I recommend as well tapping into some of Lamaze's resources, including the Lamaze weekly e-magazine at http://magazine.lamaze.org/iLamazeBuildingConfidenceWeekbyWeeki/tabid/181/Default.aspx and the Giving Birth with Confidence blog at http://givingbirthwithconfidence.org/. Get going and have confidence!