I'm a first-timer, due in November, and my doctor is encouraging me to take prepared childbirth classes and make a birth plan. I've scheduled classes (the hospital ones, and Bradley ones) and I've been reading a lot. I've done online research and read Dr. Sears' The Birth Book, etc. I also attended an anesthesiology class with a pregnant friend of mine.

So my question is, how on earth do you make decisions about what kind of birth you want when:

a. You've never done this before and have no idea what it's really like,
b. Everyone has an agenda and wants to convince you their way is best?

The Bradley folks tell you all these scary stories about side effects of medication, the hospital folks tell you all those stories are outdated and untrue, and mamas I know range from "it didn't hurt at all; it was over before I knew it!" to "I was in labor for 4 days and it wouldn't have lasted nearly as long if I'd given in and gotten a epidural!"

In short, dear friends, I am confused. So I am reaching out to the Good People of the Internet for some advice. How did you/are you making your birth plan?