A book for pregnant women who would like to explore how best to cope with pain and fear - during their pregnancies and also during labour and birth. This book contains information about the physical and psychological functions of pain, cultural influences on the experience of labour pain, elective caesareans (are they a simpler alternative?), advantages and drawbacks of using drug-based pain relief, information and ideas on how to transform labour pain into an experience of strength and power. This book provides information on a very wide range of pain relief options, based on the author's experience of helping women and giving birth herself. Especially useful for women who want to have a straightforward natural birth, avoiding drugs during labour, if at all possible. The author is a midwife with over 30 years' experience and also a mother herself.