Everybody feels pain differently. So it is with labor pain. Your neighbor claims she watched CNN, slept through transition, pushed three times and the baby was born, all without pain medication, of course.
Labor is painful and there is no way to measure the pain, like taking a temperature.
Breathing techniques, like Lamaze, help women endure labor with what's called gating. Breathing is widely used in labor and is particularly helpful in the early stages when it is unwise to give medication. Another gating technique is called TENS or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Mild electrical charges are administered to the patient's back, again distracting her from the pain. Walking around, showering, bathing, having your partner rub your back, rocking in a chair, or squatting on a birthing ball are all non-medical ways to relieve labor pain.