I know that support is a big thing for the mental aspect of labour & birth, but I had a wonderful midwife that was with me the whole time, Aaron & my mum telling me how fantastic I was doing, but it wasn't enough. I was freaking out & needed something to calm me down and relax, which was the epidural as it gave me a break from the contractions.
Awwwww Sarah, you needed a Doula Often thats what happens - women freak out (and or the partner!) in fear or without stability in the support team, so the woman wants out and goes for pain relief - which is why I am so passionate about this. Our partners are great and essential to have with us but aren't experienced at birth. Our mothers can be great, but if they haven't had a good experience or are not experienced in the kind of birth we want, (e.g. mum had caesars, you want natural) this can be a problem. You'd be surprised how many mums I know of that joke about their daughters thinking they will need an epidural to cope...

It can also be a problem when any of them can't stand seeing you in pain and want to get you out of that situation. They need to know that it's good, productive pain.

It's just getting this across to everyone and explaining what we do - unfortunately it's harder with first timers who are more insecure or nervous about someone else being there, when they are the ones that need lots of support (not that anyone needs any less).

Like Fletch said, it's easy not to be informed... but it's just as easy to get informed if you know where to go