Natural births

I'm currently pregnant with my second baby and im really considering a natural birth (no pain meds) with my first, i felt like i had no control over anything, like i was talked into an epidural so soon. My birth just didn't go as planned granted it did go very well and smoothly. I was only in labor for 12 hrs and pushed for maybe 5 minutes. I really want to try an unmedicated birth with this one. I've read so many good things about it but also have heard horror stories. Any mommas who had an unmedicated birth? How did it go? How was the pain? What did you do to manage the pain? Was it worse or better then you thought it would be?