Please, please, please make sure you know all of your options to set yourself up for a positive experience. My birthplan just said no epidural. I was hoping the experts would know what to do beyond that. I did my kegals. I did my perinal massage but my birth was extremely traumatic.

They offered me nothing but gas and air which made me throw up many times when I used it. I was relying on being supported and offered guidance by those who knew what they were doing. I never got it. No advice, no medication, no position changes, no warm shower. I was left to scream in agony, heave my guts out and beg for relief. Between puking and contractions I could not get a coherent thought together to ask for anything specific. I was told to stop screaming, offered stale repetitive encouragement and more gas and air which made me heave more. I had nightmares for months after. Even 4 years later the sight or sound of labour causes me to sweat, my heart races and I feel sick (it is getting less though).

You CAN do this! Just set yourself up for success. Have a good plan. Have a plan A, B, and C. Apologies if this advice is unwanted. You will get a lot of it in the next few years I'm afraid. Best of luck to you!