Like most expectant moms, Oz Spies of Denver, Colo., took the childbirth classes offered by the hospital where she delivered her son. It covered the basics, focusing on alternative pain-control techniques – breathing, using the birthing ball, taking a bath, counter pressure and changing positions. In other words, it focused on the big picture. But Spies knew from her own research that there was more to labor than just breathing and enduring.

"Between the class, reading a bunch of books, talking with friends and reading lots of blogs, I knew some strange things could happen in childbirth," says Spies. "That said, knowing that painful, odd things would happen in the abstract and experiencing them were two different things!"

Spies didn't stress too much about what might happen, and now, expecting her second child, she shrugs off those unpleasant moments as just part of the package. But some women do worry, so, for them, we've asked a couple of experts to demystify some of the crazier things a woman may experience during labor.

This was the big surprise for Spies, who now writes a blog called Knocked Up to discuss pregnancy and new parenthood. She says she's prone to stomach issues, and was afraid of an epidural because it might make her sick. As it turned out, she vomited so violently from the pain that the epidural ended up giving her relief.

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