In my experience, women are quick to tell horror stories to expecting mothers, and as a result, women are scared to death of labor. Labor is different for everyone. I made sure my daughter had Ina May Gaskin's "Spiritual Midwifery" to read and a DVD they put out, too. As a result, she understood birth very well. Both her births were beautiful and natural. Yes, they were obviously difficult, but I was with her every moment to support her and her spouse. She had the closest thing to a home birth you can have in a hospital. I've seen several births. The natural ones especially are awe-inspiring. My daughter was like someone who had climbed a mountain or run a marathon.

Natural birth is best and safest unless there is a complication. Interventions all introduce extra risks and should not be performed unless there's a need. Often, there is no need, but the interventions are done for the doctor's convenience.