Kathryn, congrats on the birth of Lachlan and well done for getting through it! Gee, shame there was no eppi for you, probably would have made life a bit easier! One of my friends had her little girl at a public hospital and had a student doctor who really botched things up (ie, she was meant to get an eppi as she was induced, labour went on and on and then she had to have an emergency C) so she scared me into getting insurance for private. Then again, another of my friends had a baby a year ago at the major public hospital here in Perth, had a three hour labour, eppi, fantastic midwives, private room and bathroom and raves about it! And didn't have to spend a cent (unlike me!). So maybe just the luck of the draw. Anyway, the most important thing is you have your little babe in your arms and you are both well and happy. Congrats again.