With enough practice you can block it out for minutes on end. (personally I was lucky - pain free birth [it was uncomfortable though] in a birthing pool in a midwife unit, and a second [painful but extremely fast - wasn't able to block the pain out completely or hold the baby in!] home birth in the shower so fast that the midwife hadn't arrived...curiously all fine and not full of anxiety during the event though). Both births were supported by paracetamol. @juniperberry My experience is actually similar to yours because the midwives decided for whatever reason that it's too early to examine me. Even with my water broken. I was so lucky I was in a private room in the antenatal wing. My husband was able to stay in the room with me, without anyone noticing. (Because of lack of visits from midwives). I wouldn't be able to do it without his support. I agree with @clozza that the most important factor is actually a calm and encouraging birth partner. My husband was beyond wonderful. He was with me for 2 days in the hospital room, without any sleep hardly. @juniperberry, I wasn't examined until the evening of the 2nd day, when they want to kick me out of my private room and send me home. Because my water has broken, they said they'll give me a sweep to get me going. I was already fully dilated at that point and they pushed me to the delivery suite. I