I've had two natural (drug free) births. I don't think it hurts all that much, I've got gallstones & the pain from gallbladder attacks is WAYYYYYY worse than labour..
I think every women experiences labor differently. For me it definitely hurt but was different with both kids. My daughter i had extremely bad front and back laborand my son was just front. My epidural didn't work with my son so i was forced to experience it natural. And i remember being n labor telling myself over n over again how id never do that again and blah blah n well here i am 39 wks pregnant lol so needless to say its a pain well worth it
Women have been doing it for centuries. The great thing about it is every contraction will end and so will labor. If you can have a natural birth I recommend it, there are no words. Hire a doula. Bring tools with you like a big all, massager, and be sure you can move around. If you are stuck in the bed then you likely will have no way to position yourself to work with the pain. If there is no pain there is no progress!
Yes it does when we say it hurts it hurts but hey am on number 2 so the pain does last forever...lol
Labor hurts like h*ll!! So yes. Contractions are horrible.