Thanks everyone.

Chocolatecatty, I agree. I'd hate to just put things down to chance and luck. This may not be a great analogy but the best one I can come up with is it's like going for a job interview.

Some people prepare well; others wing it. Neither can control what the interviewer asks (ie. the pain) but usually the one who's prepared well will win out over the person who goes in unprepared. It may very well be that I'm back here in a couple of months saying that I had the full works in terms of epidural and caeasarean. That will be fine by me because I know now that I'll do my best and what "doing my best" entails.

Ebonee - it sounds like your sister-in-law is having a rough time at the moment. I hope things get better for her.