Jennifer you are so cute, just so you know...I am an INCREDIBLE wimp when it comes to pain. I have zippo tolerance, when I get sick the whole house KNOWS about it. That being said...I have never had pain medication during childbirth with any of the 6 kids I've had. I have punched walls (or nurses who get too close), but no pain meds. AND it's funny how we are all different....in my mind, I can't IMAGINE having a needle stuck into my spinal cord and I've heard the pain afterwards, headaches, etc is really bad and THAT has scared me enough to go natural. There are MANY natural ways to deal with the pain, but water has helped me the most. I think many hospitals will do underwater births and this option is an AWESOME way to deliver a baby. Much easier to deal with contractions!!!! Feels wonderful! (as wonderful as labor can feel!). What you have to remember is, when the pain is so terrible you think you can't handle it anymore, then you are probably ready to push, which is when the pain subsides a bit. I can't imagine missing the feeling of pushing the baby out - it's really cool. Someone told me about stomach breathing and it helped me release the pain MUCH more effectively.
As to location of the birth, I'm a firm believer that babies can be born ANYWHERE. Wherever you are most comfortable is the best place to have a baby. For some that's the hospital, for some it's home. I had 3 hospital births and the last 3 my husband delivered at home, no assistance. I have NO idea what we will do this time. My dh does my prenatal checks, I don't go see a doctor. If I was to have any problems I would - I'm not anti doctor - I just think that pregnancy and birth are completely normal experiences. With the first three - I swear - their opinions on pregnancy, birth and exercise changed every time and they continue to. I kind of get a kick out of reading what the OB's tell women about exercise. I actually had the OB tell me that my abs were very developed with all my situps/exercise and that she thought I could have a very hard delivery because of this - IT WAS THE EASIEST DELIVERY THAT I HAD. I've heard everything. I continue to do my sit ups and cardio coaches (thank you Mel) all while my heart pumps into the 170's and my dh tells me to carry on. If my body tells me otherwise - I'll revise this plan. So I just said WAY too much and better shut up now. Hope a little of it helped. Keep praying and God will lead you and your husband to make the wisest decision for your situation!!
Briee (it occurred to me the other day, if I was to see a doctor at my age - they would tell me I'm "high risk" - I'm 43. I'm sure they wouldn't like me snowboarding every weekend either - but hey maybe that's changed!)