The level of pain is something usually perceived by the individual - what is painful for one person; may be nothing for another. This can be said for child birthing and labour as well, affecting the number of women birthing naturally in modern societies.

More and more, women are subjected to horror stories of labouring a child and hence we're seeing higher epidural and medicated pain relief than ever before - in fact over 76% in the US and Australia. Also because of this perceived pain, women are now electing to have caesareans - it's only a small percentage, but there's a huge hype about it in the media - the "too posh to push" story headlines.

Pain during childbirth is something perceived and can be worked through with natural methods. Here are a few tips that you can implement as soon as contractions come on:
" Women naturally release hormones during contractions and labour to help ride through the pain. Let your body do its thing and prevent taking any medicated drugs or pain relief as this will cancel out a certain percentage of your natural inhibitors.
" Go 'into your body' and breathe through the contractions. Really go inward and work with your body and baby. Ride through the contraction.
" Trust yourself and your body that you are designed to birth naturally. Your hormones, body, strength and power will get you through the birthing journey.
" Use water as pain relief, whether you have a water birth in a pool, bath, or shower. Do some research on birthing in water and find a hospital that can support you with this type of pain relief.
" Visualise during the birth. See your perineum expanding to the size of a football field and your baby coming through the passageway easily and effortlessly.
" Talk to your self, body and baby, affirming positive actions - eg. "We can do it", "let's work together as a team", "we are nearly there", "thank you body for working so hard", "tell yourself you are tolerant to pain", etc.
" Use massage, aromatherapy, acupuncture or other natural therapies to help with the contractions.
" Smile and give thanks to yourself and birthing team - believe me, this helps with the pain.
" If someone is about to tell you a birthing horror story, then walk away politely. Choose not to listen to these stories, as they will just fill your mind with self-doubt, mistrust, and a belief that you're unable to birth naturally.
" Surround yourself with women who have had successful natural births and aspire to be and do like them. Find out how they had natural births.
" When you experience pain during contractions, number the pain severity between 1-10, one being low pain and ten being maximum pain endured. Rating your pain helps understand the perception around it.
" Identify what your beliefs are surrounding birthing, and work with a holistic therapist to help shift any negative beliefs. Kinesiology, Reiki and other natural therapies are extremely useful in these areas.
" Attend additional birth classes to help you understand and work through the perceived pain through practical skills and exercises.
" Hire a private midwife or doula that can assist you with your labour, pain, and representation in hospital.
" Scream - that always helps.
" Let go and surrender during the labour including any beliefs, fears surrounding the birth. Release tension in your body, any anxieties, and/or issues from your past. The more you can let go, the greater chances of being connected to your body and baby and labouring naturally.
" My last tip is enjoy yourself. You are a powerful woman, with strength and motherly capabilities and instincts. With the right time, space and energy, the belief to birth naturally is possible.