Giving Birth. Is it that bad?

I was asked by a friend on Face book, to leave a comment on her wall about giving birth as she had a friend who was pregnant and was terrified.  I dithered about writing something as LBR birth was best described as a "car crash"  

We decided not to have any pain relief as Step D was very ill with Leukaemia and the research had shown they thought it was prenatal. (I will write another post with more details about that) So any form of drugs in my body was not an option

Look at the size of that head!

Needless to say I had a terrible time of it.  35 hours of labour, a big baby, a lot of sick, 4 hours pushing (without any natural instinct to push. . .way too tired by then) a lot of cutting, a lot of stitches. Infection. . . .And on it goes. 

How do you make that into a positive experience? I look back in absolute horror and to be honest not in any way joyous even when they first handed me my baby.

This is what my reply was:

 My Birth was terrible with Redd. But if you asked me would I go through it again to have another baby? I wouldn't hesitate to say yes. Some people have an easier time than others. But when you are bathed, have had your Tea and toast (the best ever!) and you look at the little person your holding in your arms. You actually can't put into words the love you feel. It really does cancel out all you have been through.

Step D taking LBR on his first walk