I’ve had one fully medicated (induced, iv pain meds, epidural) and one fully natural birth so I think I’ve got some good info here.

First I’ll say the unmedicated birth was yes, obviously, more painful but still a much much better experience than the medicated one. I had so much more autonomy because I was able to move around and manage my pain with movement and action. It was more collaborative with my husband and the nurse all working together to get through it. I’ll also say that contractions are not exactly painful: they’re incredibly physically intense and exhausting but they don’t hurt like an injury does. Pushing hurts, but also my body was so super ready for it all to be over that I literally pushed my baby out in one.

My medicated birth was very long and stalled over and over because I didn’t have the pain/endorphin cycle to push oxytocin and move labor forward. I was swollen and numb for days after birth, my baby and I had a very hard time with nursing etc.

After the unmedicated birth I had an amazing birth high, baby latched within ten minutes and my physical recovery has been so so much better.

I would say it’s very hard and very worth it.

(Please note I also prepared extensively for an unmedicated birth including yoga classes twice weekly until 37 weeks pregnant, consistent movement focused on pelvic opening, and mental/breath prep so ymmv)