I had natural childbirth and I would go through labor and delivery ten times again rather than the first trimester fatigue and nausea.

I was in labor for twelve hours and had contractions every ten minutes which hurt similar to menstrual cramps. It was okay as long as I was standing. The severe pain of childbirth hurt about the same intensity as when I had a gallbladder attack and it was over in about ten minutes. I felt fine a half hour after my son was born and was walking feeling normal and even went white water rafting when he was three weeks old.

I think what would be painful would be a C-section after the epidural wore off.

But it probably varies among births. I've heard some people say they had a lot of pain in their back during contractions and I didn't have any of that.