What does labor and giving birth feel like?

So I am thinking about when I give birth lol.

I want to go natural. Or atleast try to for as long as possible because I’m deathly afraid of needles. I thought I would grow out of it one day, and no. I saw a video of the epidural needle once and it just kind of traumatized me. 😂😂 with that said, if I feel like I can’t handle the pain then I will get one.

I’m not really afraid of giving birth, but I am intrigued. What does it feel like?

I have never gotten bad period cramps, but I have gotten leg cramps. Like the ones in your calves that hurts horribly. So I have nothing to compare it to. Was labor/giving birth more or less pain than you expected it to be?

Thanks!