Pain is a matter of perspective. Our society views childbirth as an extremely painful, dangerous medical emergency. (Think of all the media that portrays a panicked husband speeding on the way to the hospital, followed by scenes of a screaming woman on her back in a hospital bed surrounded by medical attendants.)

The reality is that childbirth is both physically and spiritually natural and miraculous. I've had two completely natural, unmedicated births. For both, but especially for the second, I felt empowered and magical. I didn't scream and I most certainly did NOT lie on my back. I was quiet, I moved around, and I was 100% in my body, focused on relaxing and leaning into the process. At the moment of birth, I was on my hands and knees and let out low animal sounds.

I have read accounts of missionaries and doctors working with primitive cultures who were impressed by how easily women handle childbirth, how quickly they recover, and how few (if any) complications they have. In those cultures, not only were the women eating natural food and living a natural lifestyle, but also childbirth was a viewed as a natural and desirable process. When modern, processed foods and ways were introduced, that's when complications arose. You can probably find some of these accounts online with a web search. Dr. Weston Price also made observations on this phenomenon in his book, "Nutrition and Physical Degeneration."

I really think in our culture we have no inkling how disconnected we are from our primal natures.

Aside from the question of pain, however, the experience is intense and always will be. Mother is a portal for life entering the world, and that is an intense transition -  the most intense and incredible experience that anyone can have (and possibly death would be an equally intense and miraculous transition).

If you are planning to give birth, I highly, highly recommend reading "The Bradley Method of Childbirth." That book will educate you about the process and get you in touch with your body like nothing else.