This is more of a vent but thought it would be more appropriate here.

As my due date comes nearer, I have had numerous comments from friends, family even random people saying to make sure I have an epidural. Comments like "there is no prize for going through labour without one" etc. I feel cornered by these comments and find them hurtful but don't know how to deal with them when they come up.

I had a natural birth with DD and did not go round big noting myself about it. It only came up if people asked me lf I had an epidural the first time round to which I replied no.

TBH, a huge needle in my back freaks me out more than labour and i am more fearful of that then labour so an epidural is not on my to do list if I can help it. Not only that, I do want to aim for a natural labour if all goes well And i can achieve it. If I can't, then I will cross that bridge when i come to it but far out, in the mean time, oh my goodness, I wish people would just leave the topic alone. It really is none of their business how I labour and birth my baby.

Has anyone else encountered this?