After eighteen hours to produce a four and a half pounder without any painkillers or gas and air, not my choice, I would have accepted whatever. Next time round I asked if I could have an epidural, at that stage they were not common and I had to 'employ' an anaesthetists privately plus pay for a particular doctor to deliver the baby. Even then the epidural packed up but at least I wasn't exhausted so could cope with the pain.

Each to their own, if they want natural then power to them, if they want maximum help then that is just fine too.