I think you can, but you may be pushing the proverbial uphill to get it.

Like tashybabe, the thought of a needle going anywhere near my spine and major surgery is far more scary than natural birth.

I had 11 hours of induced early labour, then 7 hours of established labour, then 2 hours of pushing. So 20 hours all up, and of that, I'd say only an hour was really hard to bear. It's just one day of your life, it's a healthy pain and you forget it instantly when that baby's on your chest. I loved it and I'd do it ten times over. And 40 hours after birth, I walked home from the hospy.

I used a TENS machine and had access to warm water immersion, and had a bag full of other aids. There are heaps of options, including drugs, if you want to go there. Being informed and confident is key to defeating that pain.

Just consider it.