Some people insist on avoiding the word pain altogether, substituting contractions or discomfort. But many women are dismayed to discover that labor and delivery do hurt, usually a lot, and require a tremendous amount of energy. Fortunately, the hard parts don't last that long, and when it's over, you have a baby to take home. It's best if you recognize at the start that there is no such thing as a perfect childbirth experience. Many couples expect too much and are disappointed when events don't proceed exactly as they planned.
Birth is a physical experience.
The more prepared you are and the less anxious and tense you are, the less stressful your labor will probably be. And the more manageable you feel the pain to be, the less medication you are going to need. You needn't feel as though your baby will suffer if you must have medical help to deal with the discomfort. We have refined the techniques for delivering that help so that, within certain limits, you can obtain relief while not risking your baby's safety. One way to prepare for childbirth is to take Lamaze classes, which are offered at most hospitals.