The tricky thing about talking about birth pain is that it is slightly different for each woman, and every woman has a different threshold for pain. There are very few, if any, that find birth to be painless, but some can tolerate the pain better than others. That does not make them better moms, it is just how they are built. Either way, each woman has to decide what she wants to do when it comes time to deal with the pain of giving birth. Many make a plan only to find it is not what they thought and they want to do something else. That is why it is important to keep your options open.
There have been many women pregnant with their first child that feel that birth pain is part of the process and feel strongly that they do not want any help in alleviating any of that pain. That is fine for some women, and if you want to have what some call a natural birth, that is what you should do. However, you do have to realize that the pain of birth is like no other, and you may change your mind. If you know what your other options may be, you can ask for something if you feel you just can not bear the pain any longer.
The epidural is a common way that women deal with birth pain. This is when something is inserted into the spine so that pain medication can be administered as needed. This can only be done early on, however, as you can not ask for an epidural while you are pushing. In fact, at that point, you may not find many doctors that would consider giving you anything for birth pain once the baby is on the way down the birth canal. If you can not seem to deal with the contractions, you may want to ask for one before that point which is also the most painful part of birth.
An epidural will numb the lower half of your body. You should be able to still move your toes and you will have some sensation. If you do not, someone is going to have to tell you when you are having a contraction and when you should be pushing. You can ask if you can have an epidural to help with birth pain, but tell them you want to still feel when you are having a contraction. In some cases, they can administer just enough to take the edge off, but not enough to completely take away all sensation. You won't be able to walk until it wears off, so keep that in mind.
There are other options for birth pain. Breathing techniques are all some women need, so take a class if you want to try that. Ask your obstetrician to go over them with you, even if you feel that you are not going to want any help with birth pain. So many women have asked for something far too late and regretted not knowing more about their options. Remember, giving birth with pain management does not make you less of a woman or a mother. It just means you have a low pain tolerance. Any choice a mom makes is her own. Do what works best for you whether you choose to feel all birth pain or if you choose to have some help. It's your birth and your baby, so keep your options open and do what works best for you.