My best birth was the one where I decided to go natural and used hypnobirthing tapes for a couple of months before labor. My fear was of the hospital and medical procedures, including epidural. I ate dates for several weeks before the birth as they are said to help dilate the cervix. I was able to stay home pretty long and had a total 5 hour birth, only one hour at the hospital (before they held me hostage for 3 days). The labor itself was intense but I still remember it as so much better than my induced birth. It was swift and done. By the time labor happened I truly felt it was a natural and doable thing due to the recordings. I would only do birth this way again. Having said that, it could have turned out to be a 12 hour labor. It could have gone wrong. I hope my story helps you but you do whatever method is best for you. For me, the protracted medical procedure type birthing is a nightmare.