What did you think about during contractions?!

[DimpleHands]

I am aiming to have a completely drug-free birth this time and was wondering what you thought about during contractions to deal with the pain. Did you count, focus on breathing, imagine yourself somewhere else, etc? Just curious!

I thought "Ow"

I also reminded myself that there is no "who can use the least pain relief" competition and no one gets a medal for going through all that horrendousness without it.

I was just expected a huge amount of pain. Thought, set the bar high and you can't be surprised.
It wasn't as bad as I had expected, which helped.
I think I rested quite a bit and and refused to be upset or out of control, mainly because the thought of being upset was upsetting (wierd)
I ate those horrible glucose, runners sweets, to keep up my strength, because I couldn't face food and I made a little plan in my head about when I would take my paracetamol and when I would have a warm bath so that I had little steps to look forward to. The hospital gave me two dihydrocodeine tablets,they sent me to sleep, which passed some, surreal time.
Had gas and air at the end, which was amazing, where do you buy that stuff? Did need to have a cut and ventouse, but it was quite quick.
What a waffle, don't know if that helps
What do you think would suit you? Screaming might be good for you, not for me, but that's me.

Oo, just thought of something else. I stayed at home as long as I could, because when we went in to hospital at the start of labour, it was hard and uncomfortable and clinical (surprise). Being on my own bed was a lot more relaxing. Plus travel was horrendous.

Didn't have time to think much, waters went in Sainsburys!
Very quick labour ...........ambulance job so only had a couple of hours. Dd2 was born before exdh put in an appearance.

Tbh I think the way I achieved a drug-free birth was to not rule out drugs (and there's no medal at the end, by the way). Knowing that I could have something to help kept me strong as it was like knowing there was an off switch that I theoretically could press. One contraction at a time. Water helped immensely.

Honestly, if you've never given birth before I think you should wait and see how you feel as people react to the pain in different ways. Setting yourself up for a drug free birth and then 'failing' is just awful. Don't do that to yourself. Alive healthy mum and baby at the end should be the only goal in your mind.

I sang twinkle twinkle little star and tried to see how many verses I could get through on each contraction (2 normally if you're wondering), and towards the end I concentrated on trying to stay standing / propped up on my arms and relaxing my hips. And tbh wondering where the heck the bloody midwife had wandered off too as the G&A had run out and I knew the baby was ready to come. (I was the only lady in the ward with two MW so they weren't busy.)
I had a fast labour with no complications so I think it was mostly luck/or bad luck, depending how you veiw these things. I had planned to have an epi but didn't have time.