Ren, I really hope you can rub it into his face. That is a horrible thing to say what your FIL said to you. No wonder women have lost eh believe in the ability of their bodies.
You know what, my DH even enjoyed rubbing into his father's face. He keeps telling everyone that I'm superwoman lol. I don't feel like that, just that I was in the right environment, had the right people around me and things just happened the way they should happen in the vast majority of cases.

I can top your story, though. When I first fell pregnant and went to my GP for the test and everything, she asked me :"So, have you considered where you will want to birth your baby?" I said "Yes, I was thinking about the new birth centre in the Gold Coast public hospital. But I can't seem to find much info about them, do you have any info for me?" She looked at me with a pitying expression and said: "No, I don't have any info on that. But they won't take you anyway. First babies are high risk, so they won't take them on. And you're obese, so you'll most likely have a c/s anyway."
I went home and I was shattered. I felt so horrible. I felt like I put my baby at risk by letting myself go and just generally had a huuuge guilt trip. That's when I found belly belly. I posted a question about BMI cut-offs at the BC. Turns out, I was nowhere near it. I called them the very next day and they were so shocked at that GPs comments. They got my records off her so I wouldn't have to see her again. I haven't gone back since. In my opinion, she's a disgrace for all doctors. Lucky I'm an assertive person. Otherwise I would have believed her.

About the epi question. I think it is silly and irresponsible to reccommend to women to book them in advance. You don't even know how you're gonna feel. I think the best attitude, if you're not against an epi, is to plan to go without until you feel you need it. My dad's a surgeon in Germany and his anaesthetist is a good friend of the family. He used to make his living by giving epis to women in labour. His words to me were: "Try the best you can to go without. They are not risk free and unless your labour is very long or complicated, instrumental delivery etc. then it is hard to justify that risk."

Saša