I found the epidural necessary but I also had horrible midwives who didn't care that I was afraid of the pain, had I had better care I don't think I wouldn't needed it. But that's a different story!

The epidural took all of the pain away and gave me a chance to sleep (I had a 30 hour labour) which was great, but my mobility was impaired, it was really difficult for me to stand up so exP and a midwife had to help me to the toilet. I was also stuck lying down while giving birth, 'Pushing up hill' so to speak! When the epi wore off, I was given a narcotic instead of more of the epidural fluid so that only helped very marginally, and of course after the narcotic they couldn't give me any more of the epidural fluid. I ended up being in more pain at the end because I was accustomed to the pain, I didn't have the endorphins built up through the whole labour. It made me so tired too, I passed out as soon as DD was born. Had I not had the epi, I might've been able to stay awake and bond with her.

My feelings are, from my own experience, if it's necessary for you then do it but if you can manage without it, that's even better.