my third birth was wonderful
i didnt want an epidural, first 2 births were induced, epidural, monitor, drip etc and i wanted no. 3 to be a water birth. got to hospital 3 hours after contractions started (i also wanted to stay at home as long as poss but dh insisted we go at this point) and decided i couldnt cope without an epidural as i was in way more pain than i had been at that point in 1 & 2. mw examined me and i was 9cm, suddenly all the pain wasnt so bad cos i knew i was so close! got in pool and just relaxed while the contractions pushed him out without me doing anything extra. fab fab fab
i think 3rd births are so much different from 1st births because you know what to expect and you can get a bit stroppier with people rather than doing what you are told. mine was no more painful than 1 & 2 (the bits i felt) but it came on faster than i expected, maybe thats why you have heard they hurt more. you will get through it, try not to panic