Is the woman on one born every minute 'normal'?

[OompaLumpa]

I don't mean that in a rude way but am of with our first and being honest, she has left me terrified! I'm talking about the lady who was screaming a lot....

Thanks, plantsitter, that's very helpful. I'm going to an Active Birth workshop on Saturday so hopefully that might help give me some more techniques (might be a bit late to learn hypnobirthing proper). I've had the most charmed life so have basically never experienced extreme pain (no broken limbs, serious illness, not even a migraine) so have no idea how I'll cope (I suspect not that well!) but even if technique just gets me through some of it it'll be v. worthwhile. (Have been doing the breathing when I wake up with leg cramps at night - a poor substitute for the extreme pain of labour, I know, but it's stopped me writhing and going tense like I used to do!).

I am looking at all the people in the street, Janet, and thinking just that - and all the women with kids looking physically intact and ok!

Good to get a range of perspectives - so odd that as with pregnancy, everyone has such a different experience.