I was encouraged not to take the epidural by friends, I figured it was going to be hard, and it was. I had a coach who great, she help me a whole lot so I ended up not taking it.

They were not an option when I had either of my kids (long time ago), but let me tell ya' had they been an option, I'd have been all over that! :) I think seriously though it depends on the labor, and pain tolerance of the mother, and is a personal decision each woman needs to make. I've seen good and bad in both.

I said all along that I did not want an epidural, or any other intervention for that matter. I got laughed at by everyone who asked-I'm sure they ask you just to mock. But I did it my way, no meds.

Even when you go into the hospital now, with a birth plan you are asked over and over again in case you change your mind. With my second I was 9.5cm and getting really agitated that I had to wait so long to get mine, it got to the point (my poor husband now), I could not even talk through the contractions, made no sense, and just kept giving him the finger so he knew every time I did that, he needed to go hunt down some staff.

In the middle of a baby boom with 2 edi doctors, and their BOTH in emergency rooms each with twins and your waiting almost 12 hours in labor is NOT fun. Next time, they better have that waiting for me when I get to the hospital. :D

I had my first when they knocked you out and delivered. The second I had one shot for pain. The third I had all naturel because they said it was to late for anything.The 3 rd.I optied for the epidural ,would have been great had it not failed me but I have a tip for anyone going med free,have someone rub with firm pressure ,your lower back. It was the best thing for me.